Objective Testing in Rehab: Transforming Recovery for Lifters & Gymnasts

(And Why I Invested in Advanced Technology to Help you Rehab & Train Smarter)

Whether you’re chasing a new PR in the gym or dialing in your tumbling pass, there’s one thing all athletes have in common: you want to know that what you’re doing is working.

That’s why I recently added new equipment to my physical therapy and performance practice: a handheld dynamometer and dual force plates. These tools allow me to measure your strength, symmetry, and power with real numbers—so your training and rehab decisions are backed by real data.

Let me break it down.

What is a Handheld Dynamometer?

It’s a small but powerful tool that measures how much force your muscles produce—instantly. Whether we’re testing hamstring strength or shoulder stability, the dynamometer gives a clear pound-for-pound number that shows how strong you are in specific movements.

It also compares left vs. right side to detect imbalances that might contribute to injury or limit performance. But even more importantly—it gives us critical muscle balance ratios.

Every joint in the body relies on balanced strength from the muscles around it. When one side is too strong or too weak, it can create abnormal joint forces, leading to pain, decreased control, or even injury.

With this tool, we can assess key muscle group ratios, such as:

• Hamstring to quad strength

• Shoulder internal vs. external rotation

• Hip adductors (inner thigh) vs. abductors (outer hip)

This is data we could never fully “see” with the eye alone—yet it’s essential for making smart rehab and training decisions.

What Can Force Plates Do?

Force plates measure how your body moves against the ground. Whether you’re landing from a vault or pushing off the floor in a squat, force plates track:

• Power output

• Side-to-side shifting

• Jump height and power

• Landing symmetry and control

This is especially important for return-to-sport decisions, when athletes need to meet certain strength and performance benchmarks. With these tools, we’re making safe, confident progress based on objective data.

Why This Matters for YOU

If you’ve ever been in PT and wondered, “Am I getting better?”—you’re not alone. These tools finally answer that question with numbers you can see.

The app connected to both devices provides instant feedback, side-to-side comparisons, and tracks your progress over time. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or trying to prevent one, this data gives us the clearest possible picture of what’s happening in your body.

And here's the best part: You don’t have to be in pain to benefit.

Strength testing and movement analysis can be used proactively to spot small deficits before they become injuries. For lifters, this might mean identifying an asymmetry in your shoulder that's related to why you have pain benching. For gymnasts, it might show reduced control in landings on your non-dominant leg.

Better Data = Smarter Rehab + Stronger Athletes

In the past, rehab relied on how things felt. Now, we pair that with how things measure.

For both lifters and gymnasts, I use this data to:

• Set safe return-to-sport benchmarks

• Customize injury rehab and prevention plans

• Detect hidden weaknesses or imbalances

• Track progress overtime

This means more precise treatment. Better outcomes. And fewer missed warning signs.

Want to See Where You Stand?

If you're dealing with an injury—or just want to optimize your training—let’s test and assess your baseline. You’ll walk away with objective, trackable info that gives you clarity and confidence in your rehab or performance plan.

📩 Click here to send me a message and I'll guide you from there. Let’s build a stronger foundation—backed by real numbers.