29/05/2026
Rate of Force Development as a Predictor of Mobility in Community-dwelling Older Adults.
Often when we think of strength and power testing, we think of athletes competing at the highest level...but one of the beauties of the AxIT System is that its versatility allows for the assessment of any client that comes through your doors.
One important client group that we should spend more time assessing with such equipment is our older clientele, as research suggests that strength and particularly power decline as measured by Rate Of Force Development are some of the first movement qualities to be lost as we age.
In recent research by Hester et al, RFD when performing a simple calf raise test on force plates similar to the AxIT Stomp-IT was compared to other common tests of muscular performance alongside Up-and-Go performance and walking speed in older adults.
Their findings?
Compared to common assessments of muscular performance, such as handgrip strength and chair rise performance, PF RFD was a greater predictor of mobility in older adults. These findings, in conjunction with recent reports, indicate that the assessment of RFD likely complements strength testing, thereby enabling a more robust assessment of functional decline in older adults.
This test can easily be assessed alongside strength testing classic like the Isometric Calf Raise and Isometric Soleus Raise so set physical performance baselines and track the effectiveness of your exercise programs to help your clients achieve their goals.
Stop guessing, start measuring.
Go to www.strengthbynumbers.com to learn more.
