Force Decks- Portable Force Plate System to help with Sports Performance and Rehabilitation

What is a force plate?

A force plate is a piece of equipment used to measure ground reaction forces (GFRs). GFRs are the forces exerted by the ground on an object, such as a person or an animal. Force plates are commonly used in research, sports science, and sports training and rehabilitation.

There are many different types of force plates, but they all have one thing in common- they can measure the magnitude, direction, and point of application of a force. This information can be used to understand how a person or animal moves, how much force they are exerting, and how much is distributed across their body.

What do force plates measure?

Force plates measure ground reaction force. In Newton’s third law, it represents an effect on a human body during a move. When a person rests on the ground the ground’s reaction force is proportional to his weight and in movement, it is affected by accelerations that increase. The ground reaction force vector passes through the center of the foot and is perpendicular to the ground. The reaction force has two components: horizontal and vertical forces.

What is a force platform used for?

Force plates can be used for a variety of purposes, such as studying human biomechanics, assessing balance and coordination, weight distribution, and measuring muscle force. This technology is also used in sports training to help athletes improve their performance and reduce the risk of injury. In rehabilitation, force plates can be used to help people regain movement and function after an injury. Force plates are used as a way of analyzing biomechanical aspects of walking, running, or hopping, to test performance.

Portable force plates, such as the ones offered by VALD Performance, are becoming increasingly popular because they offer a convenient and affordable way to collect data in a variety of settings. Portable force plates can be used in research, sports science, sports training, and rehabilitation.

VALD Performance’s force plates are made of high-quality materials and are designed to be durable and easy to use. The compact size of these force plates makes them ideal for use in a variety of settings, including labs, physical therapy clinics, gyms, and training facilities.

There are many different ways that force plate technology can be used. Here are just a few examples:

Top of the Line Portable Force Plate Systems

VALD Performance is a company that specializes in portable force plate systems. ForceDecks finally brings force plates out of the lab. ForceDecks system of interconnected force plates that can be used to train athletes and measure their performance. The system is portable, durable, and easy to set up and use. Measure, train, and monitor strength with ForceDecks; the world’s fastest, easiest, and most powerful dual plate system for analyzing neuromuscular strength and imbalance. Skip the time-consuming and complex process of analyzing raw force plate data, and get auto-analyzed results in real-time.

How do force plates help train athletes?

ForceDecks system is used in sports to measure direction, strength, reaction time, and other parameters produced by specific movements of the body such as walking, running or jump analysis. The ForceDecks software analyzes the motor patterns involved in kinetic and dynamic analysis in particular is user friendly.

In order to understand how an athlete’s movements can be improved, it is necessary to collect raw data determining ground reaction forces, weight distribution, and pressure mapping. After the analysis is complete, your physical therapist will be able to identify muscular imbalances and correct them with specific exercises. This allows the athlete to reach their full potential without the risk of injury.

Rehabilitation patients can also benefit from using force plates in their recovery process. Force plates can be used to help patients relearn movement patterns and improve weight distribution and loading. Physical therapists can use force plate data to design individualized rehabilitation programs that maximize recovery and minimize the risk of re-injury.

For example, an athlete who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery 9+ months ago is now beginning their return to sport protocol. The athlete will start by going through a series of tests on the force plates to assess their movement mechanics. These test results will help the physical therapist design a specific rehabilitation program that will focus on correcting any imbalances or deficiencies in the athlete’s movement. By properly assessing and rehabilitating an athlete’s movement, we can minimize the risk of re-injury and help them return to sport feeling confident and performing at their best.

What is a force plate test?

The force plate or force platform is a tool to assess the ground response force generated in a move by standing or jumping over the floor and is used for measuring lateral forces. Usually they are used as an assessment of balance, gait, and strength for biomedical applications, and for sport fitness tests.

Parting thoughts on Force Decks in Rehabilitation

Some rehabilitations take weeks or even months before returning to sport, utilizing force plates to assess an athlete’s movement mechanic is important to prevent re-injury and optimize performance upon returning to sport. Portable force plates make this possible by bringing the technology out of the lab and into the clinic.

Whether you are a researcher, coach, trainer, or therapist, if you work with people who move, then force plates can be a valuable tool in your toolbox. can spend months calling or visiting trainers to determine which one is best for you; it’ll be good to start a new program if you know which training change to do. Why are some soccer leagues testing jumps to determine fatigue? Force plates can be used in training to control force rather than passively. For sports performance athletes, we believe force analysis should be used for maintaining and recovering their health.

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