Let’s be honest — ACL rehab isn’t easy. Whether you’ve had surgery or are managing things non operatively, the road back to sport can feel long. We use every tool available to make sure you’re getting stronger, more balanced, and ready for whatever life (or sport) throws at you.
One of our secret weapons? Force plates. And no, they’re not just for elite athletes — they’re for anyone who wants to move better and reduce their risk of reinjury.
Here’s how the team use them at Momentum Sports Injury Clinic.
What are Force Plates?
Think of a force plate like a high-tech bathroom scale that measures not just your weight, but how you move. It records how much force you put through each leg, how quickly you generate power, how well you balance, and whether you’re favouring one side more than the other (even if you don’t realise it).
It is a precision instrument that measures the ground reaction forces generated when you move and captures data in several dimensions: force, timing, asymmetries (differences between left and right limb), rate of force development, and more. These metrics help therapists by revealing subtle compensations or deficits in movement patterns that take the guesswork out of rehab.
Why We Use Force Plates for ACL Rehab
🧠 Data doesn’t lie
After an ACL injury, your body will try to compensate — even if everything feels fine. Maybe you’re jumping a little more on your good leg, or not absorbing force well when you land. These little things can add up to big problems down the line.
Carl says it best: “You can feel 90%, but the force plate might tell us you’re only using your injured leg 70% of the time. That’s the kind of stuff we need to see to keep your rehab on track.”
📊 Track real progress
We’re not just asking “How does it feel today?” every session. We’re measuring actual changes in symmetry, strength, balance, and power. That means fewer setbacks and smarter decisions.
Kate often reminds clients: “Rehab isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about pushing smarter. The numbers tell us what’s working and what needs more time.”
🏃 Better return-to-sport decisions
Whether you’re playing football, running 5Ks, or just want to pick up the kids without worrying, the goal is getting you back with confidence. Tony uses the force plates during late-stage testing to make sure your injured side can handle sport-specific demands.
“If your right leg still isn’t handling load the way your left is, we’re not green-lighting a return to sport — even if the knee ‘feels’ fine,” he explains.
“We don’t guess. We test.”
🧩 The missing piece in complex cases
We often work with clients who’ve plateaued in their rehab or feel like something’s just not right. That’s where force plate data can uncover what traditional tests miss.
“Sometimes the numbers reveal what the mirror can’t — subtle imbalances, timing issues, or power deficits,” John says.
“When we see that, we can finally move forward with confidence.”
How It Works in Your Rehab Journey
| Stage | What We Test | Why It Matters |
| Early Days (Post-op or Injury) | Standing balance, basic weight shift, symmetry | We’re looking for early signs of favouring one side — and making sure we’re loading safely. |
| Middle Phase | Hop tests, single-leg jumps, landing mechanics | Now we’re seeing how your body handles more demanding movements. |
| Performance / Return to Sport | Power output, speed of force generation, reactive strength | This is go-time. We want to know you’re explosive, balanced, and ready to move like your old self again. |
Does It Make a Difference?
Short answer — yes.
Clients can fell great, but force plate testing often showreveals they are still putting 20% less force through their ACL leg during single-leg hops. Left unaddressed, that kind of asymmetry can lead to re-injury or chronic issues.
Force plates are used in elite sport, military rehab programs, and high-performance clinics around the world. At Momentum, we use them to help real people move better every day — not just athletes.
We’ve helped weekend warriors return to football, teens get back to netball, and parents chase toddlers around again without fear.
Final Thoughts (from the team)
- 🧠 Carl: “We don’t make decisions based on a calendar. We make them based on performance — and that’s what force plates help us measure.”
- 💪 Kate: “It’s not about pushing you harder — it’s about pushing you correctly.”
- 🏃 Tony: “Everyone wants to get back fast. Our job is to make sure you get back strong.”
- 🔍 John: “Sometimes recovery gets stuck. The data gives us clarity and a way forward.”
Let’s Take the Guesswork Out of Your Rehab
➡️ Book an assessment
➡️ Ask the team about force plate testing
