The story + the people behind ForceDecks
THE SCIENCE BEHIND FORCEDECKS
ForceDecks was founded to turn the slow and cumbersome task of analysing force platform data
into a simple, fast and intuitive process that meets the time constraints of elite sport.
OUR STORY
The idea for ForceDecks came about during a 2002 pre-season training camp with the then-EPL champions, where Dr. Daniel Cohen and Dr. Phil Graham-Smith were testing athletes’ performance using a single force platform.
The software available at the time only allowed data to be analysed manually, an extremely time-consuming and cumbersome process. This inspired the pair to develop an alternative software system to analyse and interpret data faster and in a more accessible way. This software would become the engine behind ForceDecks.
Separately, Drs Cohen and Graham-Smith were pioneering the use of dual-platform testing, creating new, bilateral data on compensatory strategies – something not possible from a single-platform system.
ForceDecks software has been specifically developed for use by practitioners in the sports and clinical environment with three key objectives: minimising the time spent testing; providing immediate feedback to athlete and practitioner that is easy to interpret; and making the assessment of large groups of athletes practical. As a result, the entire process from athlete selection to data visualisation can be complete in less than 1 minute.
In July 2018, ForceDecks joined the Vald Performance team. Vald Performance also provides systems for improving accuracy and efficiency in elite sport and healthcare, and we believe the synergies between our businesses will make us world-leaders in human measurement.