The Role of Force Plates in Improving Power Athlete Performance

Join Cameron Hobson, Bertec's Associate Product Manager talk to us about Force Plates in Improving Power Athlete Performance.

The talk covers how the principles of physics can be used in conjunction with force plate data to improve the performance of power athletes in sport. The discussion revolves around the concept of the force impulse, which measures the energy flow through the athlete during movement. Learn how to use kinetic energy and gravity to produce a more efficient & powerful athlete.

0:00 – 2:56 Introduction

2:56 – 3:24 Learning objectives

3:24 – 4:23 Speaker background

4:23 – 5:44 What are force plates?

5:44 – 6:38 Force time curve

6:38 –7:54 Energy impulse

7:54 – 9:11 Three planes of motion

9:11 – 11:12 Energy analysis framework

11:12 – 12:54 Ideal movement types

12:54 – 15:02 Three important equations

15:02 – 17:48 Kinetic energy and impulse math

17:48 – 19:55 Impulse in the countermovement jump

19:55 – 21:19 General energy flow analysis

21:19 – 23:33 Applying the energy impulse

23:33 – 24:44 Optimize movement through kinematics

24:44 – 26:03 Horizontal analysis of a baseball swing

26:03 – 28:03 Vertical analysis of a baseball swing

28:03 – 29:08 Rotational analysis of a baseball swing

29:08 – 31:36 Impulse in pitching

31:36 – 32:46 Golf analysis

32:46 – 34:24 Center of mass moment

34:24 – 36:25 Applying learning to your sport/conclusion

36:25 – 38:22 Question #1: What is the difference between 1D and 3D force plates

38:22 – 40:50 Question #2: Can you describe the difference between impulse and momentum

40:50 – 43:52 Question #3: When relating this to golf, it would seem like taller golfers or golfers with high hands would have an advantage because they’re generating more potential force?

43:52 – 46:51 Question #4: How can we make GRF more realistic for pitchers and hitters as the interact with the ground using cleats, and what are the pitfalls of overlaying the force plate with turf and clay?

46:51 – 47:49 Question #5: What is the difficulty in using force impulse when not starting from a stationary stance?

47:49 – 49:46 Question #6: You referred to incorporating the preparatory phase impulse of jumping and subtracting it from the acceleratory, a lot of people analyze acceleratory from the COM, was that at 0 velocity? What’s the problem with that?

49:46 – 51:12 Question #7: How does a player weight or physique affect the rotational torque generation and angular momentum?

51:12 – 53:44 Question #8: How much will different surfaces under the force plate affect the readings?

53:44 – 55:27 Question #9: When doing jump analysis do you use two force plates and look at the difference between legs, or is that typically done with one plate?

55:27 – 56:48 Question #10: When paired with kinematic analysis (i.e. kinematic chain), do you believe that observation of force impulses could yield to injury prediction or prevention within athletes?

56:48 – 57:22 Question #11: Would placing the plate on a piece of rigid steel counteract the floor giving?

57:22 – 59:23 Conclusion / next webinars