FORCE PLATFORM

ABHIJIT KAR
MSPT-2nd SEM
 Force plates are commonly used in
biomechanics laboratories to measure
ground forces involved in the motion of
human or animal subjects

 A force plate is simply a metal plate with

one or more sensors attached to give an
electrical output proportional to the force
on the plate. The sensor can either be a
strain gauge or a piezoelectric element.
 A typical application of a force plate is to
measure the ground reaction force on
each foot while walking and doing other
activities.

 The plate can also be used for quantitative

experiments in walking, running, and
jumping, as well as other activities such as
lifting weights, climbing stairs, etc.
 Force Platform
 Metal platform in which force transducers
(e.g., strain gauge, capacitive,
piezoelectric, piezoresistive) are embedded

 Force transducers change electrical

resistance in proportion to load applied

 Used to measure common three

dimensional force (ground reaction force)
and moments acting on the body
• Metal plate supported by 4 triaxial
transducers and a central pillar.
 Center of Pressure (COP)
• Equal to the weighted average of the
points of application of all downward
acting forces on the force platform
 Center of Pressure
(COP)
• Displacement
measure
indicating the
path of the
resultant ground
reaction force
vector on the
force platform
 A – heel to toe

footfall pattern
runner
 B – mid-foot

foot strike
pattern runner
Types of Force Platforms:
 Single Pedestal
• inexpensive
• inaccurate at the edges
 Three or Four Pedestal
• expensive
• accurate within the area of the pedestals
 Strain gauge
• inexpensive
• low frequency response
• no drift, there better for posture and balance
• needs regular balancing
• limited range
 Piezoelectric
• expensive
• high frequency response, therefore better
for impacts
• drift must be compensated electronically
• wide range of sensitivities are possible
 Hall-effect
• inexpensive
• compact for portablity
• low natural frequency (150 Hz)
• wide range of sensitivities
• no drift
 force transducers
 Strain gauge:
• inexpensive, range of sizes, and applications
• dynamic range is limited, has static capability,
easy to calibrate
• can be incorporated into sports equipment
• Examples: bicycle pedals, oars and paddles,
rackets, hockey sticks, and bats
 force transducers
 Pressure mapping sensors:
• moderately expensive, range of sizes and
applications, poor dynamic response
• can be incorporated between person and
sport environment (ground, implement)
• Examples: shoe insoles, seating, gloves
 Force Platforms
 Typically measure three components of
the ground reaction force, location of the
force application (called centre of
pressure), and the free (vertical) moment
of force
 Example: fencing
 Instantaneous
ground reaction
force vectors are
located at the
centres of
pressure
 Force signatures
show pattern of
ground reaction
forces on each
force platform
 Force Transducers
Operating Principles

 Resistive (piezoresistive) Elements

 Deformation (very small, micro) causes an

electrical change in resistance that is

measured as a voltage change
 Based upon semiconductive material (i.e.

silicon)

 Piezoelectric Elements
 Naturally occurring mineral that produces

electric charge in response to deformation

 They incorporate some form of force
transducer ,which converts the force into
an electrical signal
 The transducers are mounted on the
supports of the rigid plate which forms the
platform surface
 The signals from the transducers are
amplified.
 The modified and amplified signals can be
recorded for e.g. By using an oscillograph
or converted to digital format for computer
processing .
 INPUT (force)

DETECTOR/
TRANSDUCER

ELECTRICAL
SIGNAL

SIGNAL
CONDITIONING

OUTPUT VOLTAGE

RECORDING
DEVICE

DISPLAYED
SIGNAL
 Laboratory walkway instrumented
with three Kistler piezoelectric
force platforms for posture and gait
analysis.
Woman walking on a force
platform.
 USES:
 Measure contact forces between an athlete and
ground
 To identify injury potential
 The measured forces can be used, for example to
evaluate :
 Foot strike patterns
 Balance
 They can also serve as inputs for joint moment
and force calculation.
 Force platforms provide basically whole body
measurement with no explicit information on
forces between body segments
 LIMITATION :
i. Do not show how applied force is
distributed over the contact surface,
for example the shoe or the foot

ii. General equipment consideration

 APPLICATION:

 High incidence of lower extremity

injuries in runners due to overuse
can be prevented.

 The design of footwear should depend

upon knowledge of the force and
pressure environment during running.
THANK U