FAQ
Why do you need rotational and horizontal GRF data?
Most force plates only provide vertical ground reaction force data, which is useful when analyzing vertical movements like jumps and lifts. However, having access to only vertical severely limits the types of athletic movements that you are able to assess.
At Motion Catalyst we wish to facilitate the analysis of any athletic movement. In addition to vertical, our 3D force plate gives you access to total and individual horizontal shearing forces, as well as torque (rotational force) and individual free moment (twisting forces) produced by each foot.
Horizontal force
We use horizontal (side-to-side) shearing forces in movements like lateral and broad jumps.
Horizontal braking forces are central in several sports including golf, but can also provide valuable insight for the general athlete: Observing an athlete’s ability to stop a movement, turn and go in the other direction is a good neurological test for how well they are moving.
Rotational force
Rotational forces can be produced in different ways“One way is to push our feet in different directions (creating a force couple), the other is to twist an individual foot into the ground (free moment). Our dual motion plate measures both.
Rotation is an important part of the swing motion in sports like golf and baseball, but is also an essential part of more general activities like medicine ball throws or twisting jumps.
Learn more
Watch our videos on horizontal and rotational ground reaction force:
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Why do you need pressure data?
A force plate provides the Center of Pressure (CoP) of each foot, but does not tell you whether that pressure is evenly distributed throughout the foot or concentrated in one particular place. In other words you are missing out on essential information on how the athlete is using the ground.
The pressure data from our combined force and pressure plate shows you exactly how the pressure is distributed for each foot with heat-mapped footprints. This data can help uncover imbalances and provide valuable insights into the athlete’s ability or inability to produce certain ground reaction forces.
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What separates Motion Catalyst from other sensor plate systems?
While several companies offer force plates for measuring athletic performance, most of these solutions only offer vertical force. With Motion Catalyst you also get to measure horizontal and rotational force, which give important information for any activities involving rotational or lateral movement. Furthermore, you can combine the force data with detailed pressure data, which is essential for uncovering imbalances that may lead to unstable movements and even injuries.
In the Motion Catalyst software you can perfectly synchronize all of this force and pressure data with high-speed video images, so you can analyze and understand the whole movement with both visuals and data. Motion Catalyst provides a variety of video analysis tools and organizes your recordings so you can track performance over time.
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What is ground reaction force (GRF)?
force exerted by the athlete on the ground. It is defined as mass multiplied by acceleration, and is measured in newton (N). The laws of motion dictate that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.