Force Plate Testing
At Pain & Performance Coach, Dr. Mike Makher brings years of experience in athletic and sports-based rehabilitation, helping athletes and active individuals recover from injuries, improve performance, and overcome complex physical challenges. One of the newest additions to our service offerings is force plate testing, an advanced tool that provides valuable insights into your body’s strength, balance, and movement capabilities. Whether you are a high-performing athlete or someone who works in a physically demanding job, force plate testing can play an important role in helping you understand and improve your physical performance.
What is Force Plate Testing?
Force plate testing is a highly specialized technology used to measure ground reaction forces, balance, and asymmetries in movement. The test tracks these forces during specific exercises such as squats, jumps, or other dynamic movements to give a detailed breakdown of how your body performs.
Dr. Mike uses this method to evaluate strength, power, and imbalances in his patients, providing insights that are impossible to achieve with the naked eye alone. The testing is beneficial for athletic performance and for individuals dealing with persistent pain, hypermobility conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or recovering from injuries.
Who Can Benefit from Force Plate Testing?
Force plate testing is not limited to elite athletes. It is a highly versatile tool that can be adapted to suit various groups, such as:
- Athletes in sports like baseball and soccer, and track sports such as sprints, high jump, and broad jump: For those looking to gain a competitive edge, identifying even minor asymmetries or weaknesses can help prevent injuries and enhance performance.
- CrossFit and weightlifting enthusiasts: Proper movement and balance are crucial in weightlifting and high-intensity training. This test provides key data that can help you lift safer and stronger.
- Climbers and outdoor enthusiasts: The ability to measure dynamic balance and power during climbing movements is invaluable for anyone seeking to improve their form and stamina.
- Laborers and physical workers: Companies with a workforce engaged in physically demanding jobs can use force plate testing to assess employees’ movement patterns, helping to reduce injury risks and boost efficiency.
- Individuals dealing with chronic pain or recovering from injuries: For those with ongoing rehabilitation, force plate testing is an excellent tool to monitor progress and adjust rehabilitation programs accordingly.
How Does Force Plate Testing Work?
1. Squat and Jump Testing
One of the primary functions of force plate testing is assessing squats and various jump movements. During these exercises, the force plate measures:
- Vertical ground reaction forces: This tells us how much force your body generates when pushing off the ground.
- Balance and asymmetries: The test can detect if one side of your body is doing more work than the other during movement.
- Timing: It can measure the timing of your movements to assess any delays or coordination issues that might affect performance.
2. Movement Screening and Balance
For athletes and laborers, proper balance is key to staying injury-free. Force plate testing measures the way your body distributes weight during various activities, identifying potential risk factors such as poor balance or asymmetrical movements.
For example, if you are a soccer player, knowing whether one leg is weaker than the other can help you focus your training on building symmetry, which can prevent injuries like ACL tears. Similarly, for workers in labor-intensive industries, identifying any balance or coordination issues can reduce the risk of workplace accidents.
3. Data-Driven Personalization
What makes force plate testing so valuable is the precise, data-driven insights it provides. Instead of guessing what is going on with your body, Dr. Mike uses hard data to create a customized plan for your needs. Whether you are looking to boost athletic performance, recover from injury, or prevent future problems, the test results will guide the way.
How We Use Force Plate Testing
We integrate force plate testing into both the rehabilitation and performance training programs. Here’s how it fits into the overall approach:
1. For Existing Patients
If you are already working with us on conditions like persistent pain, hypermobility, or complex injuries, force plate testing helps track your progress. It allows for a detailed comparison of your strength and movement over time, helping to adjust treatment plans and focus on areas where you need improvement.
For instance, if you are recovering from a knee injury, this test will measure how much force your recovering leg is generating compared to your uninjured leg. This information is important for ensuring that you are regaining full strength in a balanced way.
2. For New Clients
Force plate testing is available as a standalone service for athletes and other individuals looking to evaluate their performance. This is especially beneficial for athletes involved in sports that require explosive power and coordination, like basketball or football. By identifying any weak points, we can help you create a personalized training plan that focuses on improving these specific areas, leading to better performance and fewer injuries.
3. For Businesses and Organizations
We also offer force plate testing services to CrossFit gyms, weightlifting clubs, and businesses with labor-intensive jobs. By identifying weaknesses or imbalances in their athletes or employees, organizations can create more customized training or wellness programs, which may help reduce injury rates and improve overall productivity.
For gyms and sports organizations, regular force plate testing for members can be marketed as an advanced performance evaluation service, setting you apart from competitors.
Hillsboro’s Exclusive VALD Performance Testing Partner
At Pain & Performance Coach, we are proud to be Hillsboro’s exclusive VALD performance testing partner. We use the ForceDecks and DynamoMax technology from VALD to offer the most detailed and precise performance testing available today. The data we collect goes beyond what traditional testing methods offer, giving you a detailed understanding of your body’s performance and risk factors.
These tools allow us to measure strength at any joint, jump performance, and balance with pinpoint accuracy, capturing data at the rate of milliseconds. Whether you are an athlete competing in track, soccer, baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, lacrosse, tennis, pickleball, or even a tactical athlete like military personnel, police officers, or firefighters, our testing can provide the insights you need to improve.
Your Path to Excellence Starts Here
Pain & Performance Coach offers a personalized approach to rehabilitation and performance improvement, with Dr. Mike Makher leading the way. His expertise in both complex physical conditions and athletic performance makes him uniquely qualified to offer this service. With the advanced insights from force plate testing, you can feel confident that you are getting the most accurate data and targeted care possible. If you are interested in seeing how force plate testing can help you achieve your goals, call us today at 971-364-0909 to schedule your first test.