Measure to Improve: How We Use VALD Force Decks for ACL Rehab & Performance
What Are VALD Force Decks & How Do They Work?
If you could have unparalled insights into your peformancel just like the pros have; would that benefit you?
The NFL.
The NBA.
NASA.
MLB
All use the same systems to make data driven decisions.
Health CAN NOT be optimized unless it is individualized.
The VALD ForceDecks are Force Plates that measure strength and power during dynamic movement. Using a grid of sensors embedded on two surfaces, Force Plates collect real-time data on what loads and forces are applied to the human body during athletic movement.
The VALD Force Decks incorporate software with the force plates to create a picture of exactly how you are moving. The Force Deck platform is equipped with sensors that measure the Ground Reaction Force (GRF) exerted by performing various activities such as jumping and hopping. The software then visualises the vertical GRF to create a force-time curve. This data is analysed to calculate parameters including velocity, power, and displacement.
How VALD Force Decks Help ACL Rehabilitation
VALD testing provides us with invaluable data to enhance ACL injury management like never before. By identifying asymmetries between the left and right sides of the body, we can pinpoint imbalances and determine whether you’re unconsciously favoring one side. Analyzing force production and movement quality helps us gain a deeper understanding of how your body moves. These real-time insights allow us to create a customized rehabilitation plan, track progress, and optimize your recovery at every stage.
After an ACL injury, individuals often experience abnormal neuromuscular patterns and significant physical impairments. The primary goal of ACL rehabilitation is to restore joint stability, proprioception, reaction speed, muscle strength, and overall control to minimize instability and reduce the risk of re-injury. Whether an athlete undergoes surgery or opts for a conservative approach, several key factors influence the return-to-play decision. These include objective performance data, clinical assessment, and shared decision-making. To ensure the highest level of function before resuming sport, we evaluate numerous aspects of movement—many of which are measurable using VALD Force Decks.
Common Deficits After an ACL Injury:
- Muscle weakness
- Impaired dynamic joint motion
- Rotational control deficits
- Excessive frontal plane knee mechanics
- Abnormal neuromuscular control
- Difficulty returning to sport
- Strength asymmetry compared to the uninjured limb
Key Performance Metrics We Measure With VALD Force Decks
At MYOMUV, our Physical Therapists and Coaches use the VALD Force Decks to collect data on explosive power, strength, and symmetry. Testing takes less than a minute to perform, provides rapid feedback, and produces reliable, objective data that dictates rehab and performance programming. To ensure clients reach their highest potential, we use our Force Decks to collect baseline performance measures, track progress over time, and make more informed decisions when it comes to your rehab and program!
There are several movements that can be assessed with force plates. A few are:
- Squat
- Counter Movement Jump
- Drop Down Jump
- Single Leg Jump
The metrics we measure will all depend on what your physical therapist is analyzing. Common metrics we look at:
Jump Height
This metric gives us an idea of your power, maximum strength, and explosive strength.
Peak Power
Your peak power is the highest amount of power generated during the test. Power is able to account for a combination of strength, velocity, force and neuromuscular adaptations.
Peak Takeoff Force
This force gives us an idea of how much power you produce in order to jump from the forcedeck surface.
Peak Landing Force
This gives us an idea of how well you absorb shock as you land.
Symmetry Between Limbs
Limb Symmetry Index is the ratio between opposing limbs (right leg and left leg). Whether the asymmetry is due to surgery, injury, or merely limb dominance, it can help us compare the affected limb to what would be considered “normal” for you.
VALD recommends that limb symmetry with all metrics should be within 15% to be considered normal. However, clinical research for return to sport testing shows that <10% may reduce injury risk further, so this is our goal at MYOMUV for return to sport rehab.
VALD Testing for Non-Athletes or Athletes Without Injury
The VALD decks can also give valuable information for athletes that have not sustained an injury. A thorough assessment utilizing the VALD decks can help identify biomechanical changes or deficits that may contribute to an increased risk of injury during the sporting season. The VALD decks give us information about how an athlete is progressing throughout their performance training journey. Depending on their sport, we can tailor certain tests and metrics to specifically look at what areas they need to work on. These include things such as jump height, power, rate of force development and strength asymmetries.
Vald Force Deck testing can also be an incredibly valuable tool for non-athletes looking to improve their overall fitness, health, and well-being. Originally developed for elite athletes to measure and optimize performance, the Force Decks system is capable of assessing force production and providing actionable insights into movement efficiency, strength, and other physical capabilities. However, its benefits extend far beyond just athletic contexts. For non-athletes, this testing can help identify specific areas of weakness or imbalance, giving a clear direction for improvement.
By using Force Decks to assess things like jump force, landing impact, and asymmetry in force distribution, non-athletes can get a more precise understanding of how their bodies are performing during everyday activities. This insight can guide targeted exercises and movement strategies to help prevent injury, improve posture, and correct muscle imbalances. The data collected can be used to track progress over time, offering non-athletes the ability to monitor their own improvements and adjust their training plans as needed.
Another key benefit is the potential for improving functional strength and efficiency. Non-athletes often focus on general fitness goals like weight loss or muscle toning, but neglecting to assess foundational movement mechanics can sometimes lead to suboptimal results or even injury. Force Decks testing can highlight areas where functional strength might be lacking, particularly in the core or lower body, allowing individuals to fine-tune their workouts to become more efficient in everyday tasks like walking, climbing stairs, or lifting groceries.
Additionally, using Force Decks as part of a personalized program can create more tailored, effective fitness plans. It takes the guesswork out of training by using data to provide an objective assessment of an individual’s abilities. This data-driven approach helps non-athletes set realistic goals, stay motivated, and track improvements in ways that feel measurable, allowing them to see progress and stay engaged in their fitness journey. In essence, Force Decks provides a high-tech, science-backed approach to improving fitness for those who may not be professional athletes but still value optimizing their physical health and performan
HOW IS THE DATA USED?
Force plates provide valuable data that can be used to assess an individual’s current functional status. This can be important for a variety of reasons such as, but not limited to:
- Baseline testing for strength and conditioning programs
- Assessing progress over time with rehab and conditioning programs
- Determining injury risk profiles for returning to sport
HOW IS THE DATA USED?
- Comparison to pre-injury (baseline testing) functional status to determine if a full recovery has been made following an injury.
- Comparison to “normative data”. This is when we look at how an athlete performs compared to others of similar age, gender and sport. This allows you to see how ready for competition an individual may be.
- Asymmetries between left and right sides (legs and arms) to assess compensation or abnormal movement strategies which may elevate one’s injury risk profile
