For years, the high cost of imported equipment prevented Indian clinics, rehabilitation centres, and sports academies from accessing one of the most vital diagnostic tools in biomechanics -the force plate. Now, researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an indigenous, low-cost alternative that could change the game for healthcare and sports science in India.
Led by Prof A. Thirugnanam from the Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, the team designed a device that measures multi-axial ground reaction forces (GRF), providing insights into gait and musculoskeletal health. Research scholars Tharani Kumaran and Monisha Gowri Srinivasan led the project under his supervision. The team has filed a patent and published its findings in the Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology.
The device offers a cost-effective diagnostic tool at one-fourth the price of Imported systems. While foreign models typically cost ₹30-50 lakh, the NIT Rourkela version is priced at just ₹8-10 lakh, making it more accessible to clinics, rehabilitation centres, sports academies, footwear industries, and research institutions across India.
To demonstrate its potential, the researchers studied heel pad stiffness, a key Factor in foot health, using the device alongside 3D motion capture technology. The heel pad, a fatty tissue under the heel bone, acts as a natural shock absorber. When stiffened, it loses flexibility, leading to pain and discomfort a common problem exacerbated by ageing, injury, obesity, diabetes, or poorly fitting Footwear.
Traditional methods rely on imaging or load-based tests that cannot fully capture now the heel pad behaves during real-life movement. The new device allowed researchers to observe dynamic responses during plantar flexion, the phase of walking when the heel lifts off the ground.
Fifteen volunteers were divided into three groups normal weight, overweight, and obese. Retroreflective markers tracked their movements, while the force plate recorded how the heel pad absorbed pressure. Results showed that heel pad stiffness increased with body weight. Obese participants had significantly stiffer meel pads, losing flexibility and shock absorption, which may explain why they are more prone to heel pain and related disorders.
“Most neuromuscular disorders affect gait, as precise coordination of strength and balance is required,” explained Prof Thirugnanam. “Our device can help diagnose abnormalities in GRF linked to conditions such as myopathies, neuropathies, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and ataxia. Beyond diagnosis, it can be used to design orthotics, prosthetics, and insoles for footwear. By making force plate technology affordable, we are opening doors for healthcare providers, sports academies, and academic institutions across India.”
The project, funded by the Department of Science and Technology under the Biomedical Device and Technology Development scheme, received support from industry partner N K Instruments, Kolkata, led by Kirti Nayak. The device is now being commercialised through KineUtkal Private Limited, a startup incubated at NIT Rourkela’s FTBI. It has also secured backing from Rourkela Steel Plant’s SAIL CSR Grant, Kerala Startup Mission, and Meity Tide 2.0 to scale development.
The project, funded by the Department of Science and Technology under the Biomedical Device and Technology Development scheme, received support from industry partner N K Instruments, Kolkata, led by Kirti Nayak. The device is now being commercialised through KineUtkal Private Limited, a startup incubated at NIT Rourkela’s FTBI. It has also secured backing from Rourkela Steel Plant’s SAIL CSR Grant, Kerala Startup Mission, and Meity Tide 2.0 to scale development.
Globally, force plates are indispensable in sports science and rehabilitation. By reducing costs by up to 85%, NIT Rourkela’s innovation promises to democratise access in India. With a patent filed, industry partners engaged, and a startup ready to scale, the indigenous force plate is poised to reshape how India studies movement, prevents injuries, and designs the future of footwear and rehabilitation.
