ForceDecks testing has become one of the most powerful tools in modern sports performance and rehabilitation. At Core Performance Physical Therapy, ForceDecks technology provides an objective, high-resolution look at how your body produces and absorbs force - information that helps guide injury prevention, track progress, and optimize performance.
Whether you are rehabbing an injury, returning to sport, or looking to improve strength, jump height, or symmetry, ForceDecks gives you measurable data that goes far beyond what the eye can see.
What Are ForceDecks?
ForceDecks are dual force plates that measure how much force your body produces during various movements - such as jumping, landing, squatting, and balance tasks. They capture data at extremely high speeds to display key metrics including:
- Peak force
- Rate of force development (RFD)
- Force asymmetry
- Jump height
- Reactive strength index (RSI)
- Landing strategy and control
This level of specificity allows therapists to identify deficits that would otherwise go unnoticed during traditional assessments.
Why ForceDecks Testing Matters
Every athlete and patient has unique movement patterns. Even small imbalances can contribute to:
- Increased injury risk
- Inefficient movement
- Plateaus in strength or performance
- Persistent pain or compensation
ForceDecks reveal what is happening beneath the surface - how each leg contributes to force, how efficiently you produce power, and how well you absorb shock. This data helps your PT tailor a personalized treatment or training plan.
Key Metrics From Your ForceDecks Test and What They Mean
1. Peak Force
What it measures: The highest amount of force produced during a movement (e.g., squat, countermovement jump).
Why it matters: Lower peak force may indicate weakness, deconditioning, or lingering deficits post-injury. Balanced peak force side-to-side is important for strength and power sports.
2. Rate of Force Development (RFD)
What it measures: How quickly you can develop force.
Why it matters: RFD is crucial for explosive movements such as sprinting, jumping, cutting, and accelerating. Low RFD can limit performance and increase injury risk.
3. Force Asymmetry
What it measures: Differences in force output between your left and right sides.
Why it matters: Asymmetry is one of the strongest predictors of re-injury, especially after ACL tears, ankle sprains, or hamstring issues. An asymmetry above 10–15% often requires targeted strengthening or neuromuscular work.
4. Jump Height
What it measures: How high you jump during jump tests, calculated through force production and flight time.
Why it matters: Useful for tracking power development and monitoring readiness for explosive sport demands. Declines in jump height may indicate fatigue or incomplete recovery.
5. Reactive Strength Index (RSI)
What it measures: The efficiency of quickly transitioning from landing to takeoff.
Why it matters: RSI reflects plyometric ability and elastic power. It is especially important in sports requiring fast change-of-direction, sprinting, and repeated jumping.
6. Strategy Metrics (Breaking vs. Propulsion Phases)
What they measure: How you absorb force during the landing phase and how you push into the ground during the takeoff phase.
Why they matter: Poor absorption strategies increase stress on joints and tissues. An over-reliance on one limb or a delayed propulsion pattern may highlight biomechanical inefficiencies.
7. Stability and Balance Metrics
What they measure: Center-of-pressure movement and postural control.
Why they matter: These help identify proprioceptive deficits, unstable movement patterns, or compensation after injury.
How Core Performance PT Uses ForceDecks Results
1. Identifying Asymmetries and Weak Links
Your ForceDecks report highlights side-to-side differences in strength, load distribution, power, or landing strategy. These insights allow your PT to pinpoint exactly where you need support.
2. Guiding Your Rehabilitation Plan
ForceDecks data helps determine:
- What phase of rehab you’re in
- Which muscle groups or movement patterns need correction
- When to progress to higher-level strengthening or plyometrics
This ensures you are neither under-training nor progressing too quickly.
3. Tracking Progress Over Time
Follow-up tests show objective improvements in:
- Strength
- Power
- Symmetry
- Jump mechanics
- Readiness for sport
This gives athletes confidence and keeps training focused.
4. Improving Return-to-Sport Decisions
ForceDecks plays a key role in return-to-sport testing, providing measurable benchmarks for:
- Strength symmetry
- Power symmetry
- Landing control
- RFD and readiness indicators
These metrics help ensure safe progression and reduce re-injury risk.
5. Enhancing Performance for Healthy Athletes
Even without injury, athletes can use ForceDecks to:
- Improve jump height
- Increase acceleration power
- Enhance force absorption
- Identify small imbalances
- Build better movement efficiency
This supports long-term performance development.
What to Expect During Your ForceDecks Session
During your testing session, your therapist will guide you through standardized movements such as:
- Countermovement jump
- Squat jump
- Drop jump
- Isometric squat or mid-thigh pull
- Balance tests
- Landing mechanics assessments
Your results are analyzed immediately and converted into an easy-to-read performance profile.
Understanding Your Data = Better Outcomes
ForceDecks testing transforms vague concepts like “weakness,” “instability,” or “compensation” into clear, measurable numbers. With this objective data, your PT can create a highly personalized plan to help you:
- Return to sport safely
- Improve performance
- Reduce injury risk
- Build long-term strength and power
At Core Performance Physical Therapy, ForceDecks testing is more than technology - it is a roadmap to smarter training, safer rehabilitation, and peak athletic performance.
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