ABSTRACT
Quantitative assessment of external forces is important to understand human movement. These external forces are applied when there is a contact between the individual and the immediate environment either through direct contact or through indirect contact via sports equipment or supporting devices such as prosthetics, orthotics or wheelchairs. Force and pressure measurement form a fundamental part of understanding human movement in the context of physical activity and sport. This chapter introduces aspects of force and pressure measurement and outlines some of the practical approaches to assess these external forces in sport and physical activity.
