Fortify Fitness — Part of Fortify Movement & Health
Objective Strength Testing, Driven by Data
AxIT force plates and dynamometers give you measurable results — no guesswork, just evidence-based programming from Accredited Exercise Scientists.
At our Altona North facility, every programme begins with a formal AxIT strength and power assessment — not a conversation and a clipboard. We capture real force data using clinical-grade force plates and hand-held dynamometers, so your training is built on evidence, not estimation. Our ESSA-registered coaches use that data to design programmes tailored to you — whether you're training for performance, managing a chronic condition, navigating persistent pain, or looking for an inclusive space that genuinely understands neurodivergent needs.
Accredited Exercise Scientists
Force Plates & Dynamometers
What Is AxIT Testing?
AxIT is a clinical-grade strength and power assessment system using force plates and handheld dynamometers — the same technology used in elite sport and rehabilitation research. At our Altona North facility, we've made this level of objective measurement available to everyday people across Melbourne's inner west.
Used in
Elite Sport & Rehab Research
Two precision tools, one complete picture
Force plates are sensor-embedded platforms that capture every kilogram of force you exert through a movement — jumps, squats, isometric holds — with millisecond precision. They reveal not just how strong you are, but how that force is distributed between sides.
Handheld dynamometers test individual muscle groups in isolation — rotator cuff, hip abductors, knee extensors — producing objective strength scores that are comparable across sessions. No subjective "that felt about an 8" — just real numbers you can track over time.
"Where most assessments rely on how you feel or how you look, AxIT tells us exactly what your body can produce — and more importantly, where the gaps are."
— Matt Elphick, Accredited Exercise Scientist
What AxIT actually measures
Force Output
Precisely measures the force you generate — in newtons — giving a true picture of your muscular capacity rather than an estimate.
Peak Power
Captures explosive power across movements, helping us understand how your muscles recruit and fire during dynamic efforts.
Asymmetry Detection
Compares left-to-right and agonist-to-antagonist differences so hidden imbalances can be addressed before they become injuries.
Rate of Force Development
Tracks how quickly your muscles can produce force — a key marker for both performance and injury resilience.
A welcoming assessment for everyone
The AxIT assessment is designed to be calm, structured, and free of judgement. We move at your pace and explain every step — an approach that works especially well for clients managing chronic conditions, persistent pain, or those who are neurodivergent and benefit from a predictable, clearly communicated process. Our Altona North facility is a genuinely inclusive space; you don't need to be athletic, experienced, or comfortable in a typical gym environment to get real value from objective strength testing.
Built by Strength By Numbers — Designed for Objective Measurement
The AxIT system is developed by Strength By Numbers, an Australian company that builds purpose-built strength and movement assessment tools for clinicians and coaches. The hardware focuses on producing consistent, repeatable readings across sessions — the kind of objectivity that lets us track real change rather than relying on feel or appearance.
Stomp-IT Force Plates
Ground reaction force, bilateral balance
Sensor-embedded platforms that record the force you produce through any lower-body movement — jumps, squats, isometric holds. They capture left-versus-right loading in real time, producing objective numbers rather than visual estimates.
Push-IT & Pull-IT Dynamometers
Isolated muscle-group strength
Handheld devices that measure the push or pull force generated by individual muscle groups — rotator cuff, hip abductors, knee extensors and more. Each reading is repeatable and comparable across sessions, giving a reliable baseline to track against.
AxIT Timing Gate
Speed, acceleration, reactive power
Electronic timing gates that measure sprint, agility, and reactive movement with millisecond accuracy. Useful for understanding explosive capacity and tracking change over a training block.
AxIT Goniometer
Joint range of motion
A digital goniometer for precise, objective joint-angle measurement. Replaces the subjective 'looks about 90 degrees' estimate with a documented number that can be accurately reassessed over time.
Objective measurement — not a medical diagnostic
AxIT tools are designed to produce consistent, repeatable measurements of force, speed, range of motion, and asymmetry. We use this data to make smarter, more personalised programming decisions. These assessments are not a substitute for medical diagnosis, and we describe their value in plain terms — as a structured way to understand what your body can currently do, and to track how that changes over time.
Why Objective Strength Testing Changes Everything
Subjective feel and generic programs have their place — but when you want to understand what your body is actually capable of, you need objective data. At Fortify Fitness in Altona North, we use force plate and dynamometer technology to measure what really matters, giving our Accredited Exercise Scientists the evidence they need to build programmes that genuinely work for you.
Identify Real Asymmetries
Generic programs assume your left and right sides are equal — they rarely are. AxIT force measurement reveals side-to-side imbalances that feel normal but quietly drive overuse injuries, compensation patterns, and performance ceilings. Objective data surfaces what subjective feel misses entirely.
Establish a True Baseline
Without a measured starting point, 'progress' is just a feeling. Force plate and dynamometer data gives you a precise, reproducible baseline — so every reassessment tells a clear story of where you were, what changed, and why. No guesswork, no inflated claims.
Remove the Guesswork From Programming
Strength and power outputs, limb symmetry ratios, and rate-of-force development all inform how your programme is built and progressed. This is how our ESSA-registered Exercise Scientists write evidence-based programs for every body — including people managing chronic conditions, persistent pain, or neurodivergent sensory profiles.
A Welcoming Space for Every Body — Including Neurodivergent Clients
Objective data doesn't just drive better programmes — it reduces anxiety. Knowing exactly what the assessment involves, and why each measurement matters, creates a clearer, more predictable experience. We've designed our testing process to be inclusive and welcoming, particularly for clients who are neurodivergent or managing chronic health conditions. No surprises, no judgment — just evidence and support.
What to Expect From Your Assessment
We know that stepping into something new can feel daunting — especially if you're managing pain, a health condition, or simply haven't trained in a while. Here's exactly what happens when you come in for an AxIT strength assessment at our Altona North facility. No surprises. Just a clear, supportive process with your wellbeing at the centre.
Arrival & Welcome
You're greeted by one of our Accredited Exercise Scientists — Matt or Ryan — in a calm, unhurried setting. We walk you through the session plan, answer any questions, and take a short health history. There's no pressure and no judgement. Whether you're managing a chronic condition, chronic pain, or simply curious about your baseline, you belong here.
Health History & Movement Screen
Before any testing begins, we take time to understand you as a whole person. We discuss your movement history, any pain or health conditions, your goals, and lifestyle factors. This biopsychosocial intake means your results are always interpreted in context — not just as numbers in isolation.
AxIT Strength & Power Testing
Using our AxIT force plates and dynamometers, we measure your actual force output, peak power, and side-to-side strength symmetry across key movement patterns. Each test takes just seconds, the equipment does the measuring, and your only job is to give your best effort. The technology is clinical-grade — the experience is relaxed and supportive.
Real-Time Data Capture
Every rep generates objective data — force curves, peak output, rate of force development, and asymmetry scores — displayed in real time. There's no guesswork in what we collect, and no relying on subjective 'how hard did that feel?' estimates. Your numbers are your numbers, measured precisely and stored for future comparison.
Results Debrief
We walk through your results together, in plain language. We explain what the data means for your body specifically — where your strengths lie, where asymmetries exist, and what they mean for training, pain, or performance. Neurodivergent clients are warmly welcomed; we communicate clearly and adapt our debrief style to suit how you process information best.
Your Data-Driven Programme
Your assessment data directly shapes your training programme. Whether your goal is strength & conditioning, persistent pain management, chronic disease prevention, body composition coaching, neurodivergent-inclusive programming, or sustainable fitness & nutrition — every prescription is built on your actual results. Movement, health, and behaviour are interconnected, and your programme reflects that.
Our facility is a genuinely welcoming space for everyone — including people with chronic conditions, persistent pain, and neurodivergent clients. We adapt how we communicate, how we structure sessions, and how we support you throughout the process. Altona North, Williamstown, Newport, and Melbourne's inner west — our community is diverse, and so is our practice.
From Data to Programming — Your Results in Action
AxIT testing doesn't stop at the assessment room. Every data point — force output, asymmetry ratios, power benchmarks — feeds directly into a programme built around you. No templates. No guesswork. Just evidence-based training that evolves as you do.
Programme Insight
"Left leg force output 14% lower — unilateral focus prescribed for 6 weeks."
Real data. Real decisions.
Establish Your Baseline
AxIT force plates and dynamometers capture objective force output, peak power, and limb-by-limb symmetry — numbers that tell the real story, not a general impression.
Identify Strength Asymmetries
Side-to-side imbalances that feel invisible in training show clearly in the data. We use these findings to prioritise corrective loading and reduce injury risk before it becomes a problem.
Build a Personalised Programme
Every exercise selection, set and rep range, and progressive overload strategy flows directly from your assessment results — not a generic template pulled off the shelf.
Track Progress Over Time
Reassessments reveal exactly how you've adapted. Objective data means we can adjust your programme with confidence, not guesswork — and you can see your own progress in black and white.
Biopsychosocial Framing
Strength data sits within a broader picture of your movement, health, and behaviour. Our Accredited Exercise Scientists consider the full context — including chronic conditions, pain, and personal goals.
Inclusive by Design
Our assessment-led approach works beautifully for neurodivergent clients and those managing chronic conditions — clear data, structured processes, and a calm, welcoming environment at our Altona North facility.
A welcoming space for every client
Our data-driven, structured approach is particularly well-suited to neurodivergent clients and those managing chronic conditions — clear processes, transparent outcomes, and a calm, inclusive environment at our Altona North facility. Serving the inner west community including Altona, Williamstown, and Newport.
Watch How AxIT Testing Works
Short videos from the Fortify Fitness team showing the technology, the assessment process, and what it looks like in a real session.
Our Exercise Scientists explain why we chose AxIT force plates as the foundation of every assessment at Fortify Fitness.
A walkthrough of our full AxIT fitness and strength assessment — what we measure, how the session runs, and what the data reveals.
A quick look at Matt putting the AxIT system through its paces in a real personal training session.
Clinical-Grade Testing in Altona North
Fortify Fitness is an established personal training service in Altona North, operated by Matt Elphick and Ryan Coonan — ESSA-registered Accredited Exercise Scientists with genuine clinical expertise. When you book an AxIT assessment here, you're working with practitioners who read the data and build programs around it, not a generic gym experience dressed up with technology.
ESSA-Registered Accredited Exercise Scientists
Matt Elphick and Ryan Coonan are fully registered with Exercise & Sports Science Australia — the professional body governing clinical exercise science practice in Australia.
Part of Fortify Movement & Health
Our AxIT assessments are delivered within Fortify Movement & Health, a clinical exercise facility grounded in biopsychosocial principles — movement, health, and behaviour treated as one.
Assessment-Led, Data-Driven Programming
Every program begins with objective measurement. AxIT force plates and dynamometers give us real numbers — not estimates — so your programming is built on evidence, not assumption.
Serving Altona North & Melbourne's Inner West
Based in Altona North, we proudly work with clients from Altona, Altona Meadows, Williamstown, Newport, and across Melbourne's inner west.
A welcoming, inclusive space. Our facility is designed to be genuinely accessible — including neurodivergent-inclusive programming for clients who benefit from a structured, sensory-aware approach to exercise. Everyone who walks through our doors deserves care that actually fits them.
Inner west community,
personalised care
Serving Altona North, Altona, Altona Meadows, Williamstown, Newport and Melbourne's inner west
Ready to Know Your Real Numbers?
Book an AxIT strength assessment at our Altona North facility and get a data-driven programme built around you.