The ActivForce 2 is a hand-held dynamometer and inclinometer. This a professional-grade instrument is our top-recommended dynamometer for medical professionals. (It’s also great for fitness professionals!) It is used with a powerful, easy-to-use app that can be accessed by your smart phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
Our ActiveForce review will address:
- What the ActivForce 2 does
- How it can help you help your clients
- The quality of the product
- The reliability of the company
Read below to see why we recommend the ActivForce 2 hand-held dynamometer and inclinometer.
What to Expect in our ActivForce Review
This is an objective review by a professional in the fitness industry. Our ActivForce review will consider the strengths and areas for growth of the ActivForce and give you some indications of how you can use it in your practice.
Synopsis of ActivForce Review
The ActivForce 2 is well-built, medical-grade, and has an intuitive, flexible app. The device’s lack of buttons and moving parts help make it incredibly durable, and there are no knobs that might break or loosen. You can quickly perform any number of muscle tests and share specific results with your clients.
A standout feature of the ActivForce is its inclinometer function. This allows you to chart fast, accurate developments in range of motion.
It has an easy-to-use app that can streamline and organize your testing.
The ActivForce 2 comes with diverse attachments for all your testing needs. And it also includes a well-built case.
Our ActivForce review finds this dynamometer-inclinometer combo to be ideal for:
- Physical therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants (ActivForce is FDA certified)
- Occupational Therapists
- Personal trainers
- Pilates and Yoga instructors
- Anyone who’s serious about tracking their progress
What is the ActivForce?
The ActivForce 2 is a hand-held dynamometer and inclinometer. It is a significant improvement over old standard devices, like the MicroFet 2, and it’s less than a third of the price.
As a dynamometer, the ActivForce measures how much force is being exerted. So you can tell, for example, if someone can withstand a downward force equally through both arms. The inclinometer function allows you to track changes in position or range of motion (ROM).
The ActivForce allows you to measure force outputs (that is, how hard someone is pushing or pulling). You can hold the device in your hand (hence a hand-held dynamometer), or fasten the strap an immobile object as the client pushes against the sensor. (Having an immobile foundation increases the accuracy of the test.)
Using the inclinometer function, you can test your client’s range of motion. This is crucial for tests where, for example, you are tracking changes in arm elevation before and after treatment. Objective metrics let your clients see their progress.
With your ActivForce purchase, you receive everything you need for a lifetime of accurate testing. This includes:
- The dynamometer/inclinometer device
- 3 attachments for all necessary testing
- Belts to hold the device to the client while they exert force: one hand strap, one long strap, and one immobilization belt
- 1-year Warranty
- Life-time access to the app (no additional charge)
- Charging cable (USB)
- A sturdy case for the device, attachments, and cables
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You can save at least $45 using our discount code.
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What is a hand-held Dynamometer?
A hand-held dynamometer is a device used to measure the isometric strength of a muscle or muscle group.
A modern hand-held dynamometer, like the ActivForce 2, can be used to measure force across almost any part of the body—from the gluteus maximus to the biceps.
Who Needs a Dynamometer and Inclinometer?
Dynamometers and inclinometers are used by anyone who cares about precision and tracking improvement in their patients and clients. While they were traditionally used by physical therapists, force measuring devices are also used by:
- Occupational therapists
- Personal trainers and Strength & Conditioning coaches
- Pilates instructors
- Martial arts teachers
The need for a hand-held dynamometer and inclinometer is rooted in the fundamental goal of clinical and athletic assessment: to move from subjective observation to objective data.
For decades, practitioners have relied on manual muscle testing (MMT) to obtain quick information regarding a muscle’s strength and endurance. Manual testing without a measuring device is a valuable, but inherently subjective, method of assessing strength by “feel.” This approach, while useful, lacks the precision required for detailed progress tracking, patient motivation, and evidence-based reporting.
This is where modern tools like the ActivForce 2 become indispensable.
Physical and occupational therapists, personal trainers, and other fitness experts rely on dynamometers to:
- Establish a baseline: Accurately measure a patient’s initial strength to create a tailored treatment plan.
- Track progress: Quantify improvements over time, providing clear evidence of rehabilitation success to both the patient and the clinician.
- Assess asymmetry: Compare strength between the injured and uninjured sides of the body to identify imbalances and guide targeted exercises.
- Determine return-to-play criteria: Provide objective data to help athletes safely return to their sport after an injury.
- Enhance patient motivation: Show patients their real-time progress, which can be a powerful motivator for compliance and hard work during therapy sessions.
An inclinometer is used to measure the angle of a joint’s movement. It quantifies the range of motion (ROM), a critical metric for a wide range of conditions, including post-surgical recovery, arthritis, and general mobility issues.
When used in conjunction with a dynamometer, an inclinometer provides a comprehensive picture of a patient’s neuromuscular function, evaluating not only how strong they are but also how freely they can move.
ActivForce’s Inclinometer
One of the most compelling aspects of the ActivForce is its dual-functionality. While its dynamometer capabilities are a core feature, the integration of a precise digital inclinometer sets it apart as a true all-in-one assessment tool.
This functionality allows a single device to measure both the force a muscle can generate and the angular range of the joint it moves, providing you with a full-body view of your patient’s or client’s physical status.
What is an Inclinometer?
An inclinometer, also known as a clinometer, is an instrument designed to measure angles of slope, tilt, or elevation.
While traditional mechanical inclinometers or goniometers have existed for centuries, the modern digital version in the ActivForce 2 uses an internal sensor to measure a limb’s position. This technology allows for highly accurate, real-time angle readings, which are then transmitted to the companion app.
How an inclinometer works
In the context of physical therapy, the ActivForce 2’s inclinometer function is used to measure a joint’s range of motion (ROM), which a key metric for diagnosing joint issues and monitoring recovery. Unlike a traditional goniometer, which requires a clinician to manually align the device with the patient’s joint and visually read the angle, a digital inclinometer is held in a fixed position on the limb, and the patient moves the joint through its full range.
The device’s sensor automatically records the start and end angles, providing an immediate, objective, and highly reproducible measurement. This process significantly reduces the potential for human error and speeds up the assessment, allowing the clinician to focus more on the patient.
Active range of motion and Passive range of motion
The ActivForce 2’s inclinometer is particularly useful for measuring both active and passive range of motion (AROM and PROM). AROM is the range a patient can achieve on their own, while PROM is the range achieved with the assistance of the clinician. Comparing these two measurements can provide crucial diagnostic information, such as differentiating between a muscular issue and a joint restriction.
The device’s ability to measure these parameters with precision and store the data over time is invaluable for charting a patient’s journey toward full recovery and function.
Since the inclinometer is within the physical body of the ActivForce 2, you can strap the device to the client and easily obtain accurate results.
ActivForce’s App
For those of us who are quickly assessing clients, you don’t want to have to do a deep dive every time you do a test. The app is great in that it is:
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Easy to find the tests you’re looking for
- Well organized when it comes to managing your clients and their data
From the dashboard, you get instant access to:
- Detailed reports from the app
- Progress tracking for your patients and clients
- Side-to-side asymmetry tracking
- Ability to export results and share to an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system
This is a no-nonsense, easily accessible app that allows quick, accurate testing with results you can share immediately.
ActivForce App Highlights:
- Simple test configuration
- Easy to repeat tests or switch sides
- Can perform multiple tests in quick succession
- App available for both iOS and Android
- Lifetime access with no charge!
Glows and Grows
In this section of our ActivForce 2 review, we’ll consider thing things we love (Glows) and the areas for improvement or growth (Grows).
Glows
Great App! It’s intuitive and flexible. It is, in every way, superior to many competitors’ apps (like MicroFet and Lafayette), and you also get lifetime access!
This thing is built to last! The construction is solid, and there is nothing on the ActivForce 2 that could break off or crack.
No additional costs: you don’t need to buy a case, any more adaptors, app subscription, or even a charging cable. Everything you’ll ever need is included!
Easy purchase process: checkout was a breeze, shipping is free and fast, and you can track the package.
Grows (areas for growth)
Any product designer has to make certain decisions about what the product will and won’t do. As we’ve said, the ActivForce 2 has no knobs, buttons, or screens. The enormous benefit for this is that the ActivForce 2 is built like a tank! Nothing will break off, get scratched, or become fiddly over time.
Of course that also means that you will need to use the ActivForce 2 with the app. (But the app is so intuitive and helpful, you’ll want to use it all the time anyway!)
Some further Details about ActivForce
- Device weight: 4.8 oz / 137 g
- Bluetooth capability (works even if WIFI is unavailable!)
- Data is held securely behind the app’s firewall
- Clinically approved and FDA certified
- Partnership programs available for institutions and students in the U.S.
Who is ActivBody?
ActivBody is a fitness technology company dedicated to optimizing performance and recovery for elite athletes, and fitness & medical professionals. Their integrated digital system tracks, measures, and visualizes key strength and force data, offering a new dimension in personalized physical therapy design — quantified, customized, and optimized.
ActivBody develops performance-tracking solutions for the physical therapy, professional sports, and medical sectors based on its proprietary technology platform.
Conclusion to our ActivForce Review
If you looking for a low-cost, high-quality, professional-grade, FDA-approved, easy-to-use hand-held dynamometer and inclinometer, the ActivForce is excellent investment. We love the compact sturdiness of the device. With your single purchase you get everything you’ll ever need for completely accurate strength and range of motion testing.
In an age where clients are wanting to see results, ActivForce can quantify improvement in ways that provide clear proof of improvement. ActivForce can easily be incorporated in your intake with new clients or quickly incorporated mid-session.
ActivBody is a California-based technology company that is a leader in the development of scientific technologies for testing force outputs. They offer fast, free shipping and good customer care.
Our ActivForce review concludes that the ActivForce hand-held dynamometer and inclinometer is an excellent value and a necessary device for any medical professional who is serious about accuracy and tracking progress.
