Force Decks
What are ForceDecks?
At Healthcare on Collins, Your physio will use ForceDecks to analyse your movement beyond what can be captured with the naked eye.
What Movements Can Be Measured?
Force decks can analyse over 20 movements simultaneously, providing your physio with an in-depth assessment of your current condition. This will help inform them of how best to improve your mobility and performance.
Examples include:
- Depth jumps
- Deadlift
- Land and hold
- Countermovement rebound jumps
- General standing balance
ForceDecks are just one component of the holistic care and assessment provided by your physiotherapist at Healthcare on Collins.
Why Will a Physiotherapist Use ForceDecks?
From here, your physiotherapist can determine if there are any deficiencies with the movement itself or if the amount of force produced by each limb is within normal realms and your ability to land effectively following an injury.
This lets your physio advise on whether you are fit to return to your particular sport or activity or if further treatment is required.
Are ForceDecks for Elite Athletes Only?
For instance, consider a scenario where you’re working with your physiotherapist. They can leverage ForceDecks to provide detailed feedback on your form during fundamental compound exercises like squats or deadlifts. This application extends to anyone seeking to improve their movement mechanics.
In essence, while athletes are a primary user group, the versatility of force decks makes them beneficial for anyone aiming to enhance their movement quality and overall physical performance.
How Do ForceDecks Improve My Treatment?
Accurate Reporting
ForceDecks ensures your physiotherapist gains precise insights into any lower limb deficiencies and identifies areas for improvement during specific movements.
For example, if you’re aiming to return to sports post-reconstructive surgery, your Physiotherapist would useForceDecks to evaluate your jumping and hopping capabilities. By measuring both downward (landing) and upward (jumping) forces, any disparities in force utilisation between legs, often overlooked visually, are captured accurately in newtons.
Your physiotherapist can then give you some specific drills to correct any discrepancies, the success of which can be confirmed via follow-up ForceDecks assessments in 4-6 weeks.
Example Usage in Rehabilitation
For example, if the ForceDecks assessment shows that the injured leg is significantly weaker than the uninjured leg during jumping exercises, the physiotherapist may prescribe additional strengthening exercises targeting the muscles responsible for propulsion and landing mechanics.
Whether you’re seeking to improve speed, strength, or jumping ability for a specific sport, ForceDecks can assist. Your physiotherapist utilises the data reports to gauge your current performance level and prescribes appropriate rehabilitation.