Force plates are a specialized measurement device designed to record the forces exerted by your body against the ground during movement.
When you perform athletic movements on the plates, such as a squat, jump or balancing, sensors on the plates capture the forces you put into the ground over time.
The raw data is then turned into metrics such as jump height, power, asymmetry, etc.
At Genuine Athletics & Rehabilitation we use the VALD Force plates, also known as ForceDecks.
How ForceDecks mitigate injury risk
1. Identifying Asymmetries and Imbalances
- ForceDecks measure Left vs. Right limb forces, which allows the detection of force asymmetries
- Research has highlighted the correlation between increased injury incidence and limb strength asymmetries > 15%
- Early identification of asymmetries enables you to correct them through targeted training and reduce injury likelihood
2. Assessing Movement Mechanics and Readiness
- Metrics captured during jump tests can indicate how well your body is performing
- If the metrics deteriorate over time, it may indicate fatigue, decreased readiness or heightened injury risk
- In rehabilitation, occupational and performance settings by monitoring metrics over time can ensure your operating at optimal capacity (rather than rely solely on subjective feelings)
3. Monitoring Load and Movement Quality over Time
- By conducting regular assessments, you can build an objective database of how your metrics evolve over time
- Changes (particularly decreases) in key metrics might flag accumulating fatigue or movement dysfunction
- Coupled with other metrics (training load, wellness questionnaires) the force plate data offers a powerful indicator of when you may be more vulnerable to injury
4. Return to Performance and Benchmarking Decisions
- When you are returning from an injury, ForceDecks assessments can help determine whether your mechanics (force generation/absorption, symmetry, capacity) have returned to pre-injury norms or acceptable thresholds
- Many injuries occur when returning too early or with residual deficits that subjective questions or feelings can’t determine
- By including objective data from ForceDecks, it strengthens the decision-making process and helps to reduce the chance of re-injury
Normative Data or Norms
One of the strengths of the ForceDecks we use at Genuine Athletics & Rehabilitation is the integration of normative data or Norms.
VALD (the company behind ForceDecks) has recorded over tens of millions of tests from greater than three million individuals, which creates a rich dataset to generate accurate and reliable Norms.
All the Norms are integrated within the tests we run at Genuine Athletics & Rehabilitation, enabling a more comprehensive and contextual framework for your evaluation.
Why Norms Matter
1. Contextualizing Performance
- Without norms, the raw numbers from testing may not immediately inform you if a test was “good” or needs “improvement”
- Norms answer the question of “how does your performance compare to others just like you”
2. Goal Setting & Progression Tracking
- Norms give realistic targets to shape meaningful and objective benchmarks, rather than vague aims
- Over time, seeing improvements relative to percentile bands helps visualize your meaningful change
3. Injury Risk and Return to Performance Thresholds
- Seeing where you sit relative to Norms helps determine the level of injury and sharpen the focus for rehabilitation
- Norms support the return to performance decision making process by layering in objective external benchmarks
4. Communication & Buy-In
- Norms are intuitive and easy to understand, which aids in motivation for both rehab and performance
- Norms also support communication between all those involved in your care inside Genuine Athletics & Rehabilitation and outside supporters such as coaches, managers, etc.
5. Genuine Athletics & Rehabilitation Standard for Norms
- With any injury, our goal for Rehabilitation is to restore you to the 50th Percentile
- While for Performance, we aim to elevate you to the 75th Percentile
How ForceDecks Improve Performance
1. Quantifying Strength, Power and Reactive Capacities
- ForceDecks allow you to identify your Max Force output which is a direct indicator of strength
- You can also track explosive or plyometric movements such as countermovement jumps, drops jumps, etc. and assess key phases to fine tune training emphasis
- The objective numbers provided will enable you to “see” where an athlete is weak and specifically tailor training to improve their deficits – leading to performance gains such as jumping higher, sprinting faster or becoming stronger
2. Individualizing Training based on Data rather than “one size fits all”
- Generic training may not hit each athlete’s sweet spot
- With ForceDecks testing we can measure how each individual responds and adjust training accordingly
- Leading to more efficient training with fewer wasted reps, stronger adaptations and better translation into performance
3. Monitoring Readiness, Fatigue and Session Impact
- Repeated testing with ForceDecks allows us to monitor your neuromuscular capacity (Force & Power) to determine if it is being maintained, improved or declining
- Allowing us to regulate training load and volume based on what each individual body needs
4. Enhancing Movement Efficiency, Asymmetry Correction and Technical Refinement
- ForceDecks dual plate design allows measurement of Left vs. Right limb forces, enabling detection of asymmetries during testing
- Correction of large asymmetries (>10-15%) can help to optimize performance
5. Providing Objective Feedback and Motivation
- Athletes respond to objective numbers
- Seeing physical metrics helps reinforce training, while also tracking progress and improving motivation
Every movement tells a story. With ForceDecks, we can measure it, understand it, and improve it, giving you the clarity to train, recover, and perform with confidence. Book your assessment today and start making your progress measurable.
