FORCE PLATE & FORCEFRAME TESTING IN CHELTENHAM
OBJECTIVE TESTING FOR REHABILITATION, ATHLETIC PROFILING, AND SAFE RETURN TO SPORT.
Looking for objective performance and rehabilitation testing used in elite sport environments?
Force plate and ForceFrame testing provide objective measurement of strength, power, and movement asymmetries. Considered the gold standard in elite sport environments, these technologies are widely used to guide rehabilitation, monitor athletic performance, and assess readiness to return to training and competition. By providing clear, measurable data, they play a vital role in return-to-play decision making, helping ensure athletes rebuild strength, restore movement quality, and progress safely through rehabilitation.
WHAT FORCE PLATE TESTING MEASURES
DYNAMIC MOVEMENTS
Force plate testing at our Cheltenham sports performance clinic allows us to analyse how the body produces and absorbs force during key athletic movements such as jumping, landing, and balance tasks. These tests provide objective insights into movement quality, strength, and asymmetries that may influence injury risk, rehabilitation progress, and athletic performance.
How we use Force Plates in rehab and performance:
• Analyse jump, landing, and balance mechanics in real time
• Measure force production, rate of force development, and asymmetries
• Track neuromuscular recovery and readiness to progress
• Identify movement inefficiencies linked to injury risk
• Provide objective clearance criteria for return to sport
This objective data helps guide rehabilitation progression, monitor performance development, and support informed decisions around training load and return to sport. It allows athletes and rehabilitation professionals to track progress accurately and ensure recovery is progressing safely.
Our force plate profiling in Cheltenham can be a one stop shop to take your data back to your coach / rehab lead.
WHAT FORCEFRAME STRENGTH TESTING MEASURES
ISOLATED MUSCLE GROUP TESTING
Alongside force plate testing, we use VALD ForceFrame technology to measure isolated muscle strength with a high level of precision. This system allows us to assess key muscle groups including the quadriceps, hamstrings, groin, hip stabilisers, and calf complex through controlled isometric testing.
ForceFrame testing is widely used in professional sport to identify strength deficits and left to right asymmetries that may increase injury risk or limit performance. By measuring force output in specific positions, we can build a clear picture of how well key muscle groups are functioning during rehabilitation or athletic development.ForceFrame testing is particularly valuable during the earlier stages of rehabilitation.
By safely measuring strength in controlled positions, it allows clinicians to monitor recovery, guide exercise progression, and ensure athletes are rebuilding strength before advancing to more demanding movements such as running, jumping, and change of direction.
Combined with force plate analysis, ForceFrame testing allows us to assess both how the body produces force and how it moves during athletic tasks. This provides a comprehensive profile that helps guide rehabilitation progression, athletic development, and safe return to sport.
WHO BENEFITS FROM FORCE PLATE & STRENGTH PROFILING
Force plate and ForceFrame testing are used with athletes and active individuals who want objective insights into their strength, movement quality, and readiness for sport.
This testing is particularly valuable for:
Return To Sport Testing Following Injury Or Surgery
For injuries such as ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, Achilles tendon injuries, and major muscle strains, force plate testing helps assess whether strength, power, and movement mechanics have been restored before returning to sport.
Athletes Progressing Through Injury Rehabilitation
Objective strength and movement data helps ensure rehabilitation is progressing safely and highlights when the body is ready to advance to more demanding training
Recurrent Injuries or Persistent Niggles
Testing can reveal underlying imbalances or movement strategies that may contribute to repeated injuries.
Athletic Performance Profiling
Athletes can identify strength deficits, asymmetries, and movement inefficiencies that may limit performance or increase injury risk.
High Level or Academy Athletes
Many athletes use testing as part of performance monitoring to track development and guide training decisions.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A FORCE PROFILING SESSION
Each profiling session is structured to provide clear, objective insights into strength, movement quality, and readiness to progress rehabilitation or training.
1. Pre Session Preparation
Before the session, you will complete a short consultation form outlining your injury history, training demands, and current stage of rehabilitation or performance training. This allows our team to design the testing session in advance so everything is prepared and relevant to your goals.
2. Warm Up and Movement Preparation
When you arrive, we begin with a guided warm up to prepare the body for testing and ensure movements can be performed safely and effectively.
3. ForceFrame Strength Testing
We start with VALD ForceFrame testing to measure isolated strength in key muscle groups such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, groin, hip stabilisers, and calf complex. This stage helps identify strength deficits and left to right asymmetries that may influence rehabilitation progression or injury risk.
4. Force Plate Movement Testing
We then progress to dynamic testing using VALD Force Plates. These tests assess how the body produces and absorbs force during movements such as jumping, landing, and balance tasks. This helps us understand movement mechanics, power output, and how both limbs contribute during athletic movements.
5. Real Time Data Analysis
All results are visible in real time during the session through the VALD system. This allows coaches and clinicians to review the data immediately and explain what the results mean for your rehabilitation or performance.
6. Review and Key Takeaways
At the end of the session we review the results together, highlighting key findings such as strength asymmetries, movement patterns, and areas to focus on in training or rehabilitation.
7. Access to Your Full Data Report
Following the session you will receive an invitation to our athlete app, where your full testing report and raw data are stored. This allows you, your coach, or your rehabilitation team to review the results and track progress over time.
WHY OBJECTIVE TESTING MATTERS FOR RETURN TO SPORT
Returning to sport after injury requires more than simply being pain free. Strength, power, movement control, and limb symmetry must all be restored before the body is ready to tolerate the physical demands of training and competition.
Without objective testing, it can be difficult to determine whether these physical qualities have fully recovered. Athletes may feel ready to return to sport while still having underlying strength deficits or movement asymmetries that increase the risk of reinjury.
Force plate and ForceFrame testing allow clinicians to measure these qualities with precision. By assessing both how the body produces force and how it moves during athletic tasks, we can identify whether an athlete has rebuilt the strength, control, and movement quality required for safe return to sport.
This type of testing is widely used in professional sport environments to guide rehabilitation progression and return to play decisions. It provides clear benchmarks that help athletes progress through rehabilitation stages with confidence and reduce the likelihood of future injury.
For injuries such as ACL reconstruction, Achilles tendon injuries, and major muscle strains, objective testing plays a critical role in determining readiness to return to training and competition.
