VALD Force Decks
VALD Force Decks - Force Plate Testing
At Pro Sports Medicine our mission statement is to provide Elite-level care usually reserved for professional athletes to all… This is why we have invetsed in the VALD Force Decks system.
With VALD Force Decks embedded in our High Performance Rehab services, we can now give you detailed objective measures of your strength, power, asymetry and more…
Force Plates are large platforms that measure the forces of which we put into the ground when we perform a specific movement or exercise.
JUMP, LAND, SQUAT, PUSH, PULL AND MORE..
VALD Force Decks automatically detect and analyse 15+ common force plate tests… they give us instant feedback, which provides us with incredibly valuable information that can be used to design rehab plans and strength programs that address deficits and work towards improvements.
Testing gives us important information!!…
Once an assessment has been completed, we generate a tailored report on the findings. The extensive data that we can gather through the use of this technology allows us to tailor your rehab and S&C performance-based programs to meet your individual needs to a greater level.
By utilising the VALD software and database we can compare your results to detailed normative data by age, gender, sport and even your position within that sport. This can then provide you with specific goals in certain testing procedures to improve your overall performance.
The instant visual feedback and ability to put a number on strength levels or asymmetries gives our clients full interaction and a better understanding of where improvements can be made. Giving you the edge for injury prevention and performance.
At a later stage we can retest to see your progress, and whether you’re ready for you to return to sport.
You don’t have to be injured to ustilise our VALD Force Decks system. We often use it for Athlete profiling to idetifying any potential weaknesses or asymetries an individual may have. This can enhance performance and reduce the risk of developing an injury.
For those who are recovering from injury, the data can be used for both acute and chronic injuries regardless of severity. From muscle/tendon strains & ligament sprains, to ongoing tendon related pain or biomechanical dysfunction.
We can assess the performance of your lower limb muscles (hamstrings, calves, quadriceps), shoulder and back, once you are fit enough to do the tests, as they are maximal force. Injuries include:
Ligament sprains (ankle, knee, shoulder)
Muscle injuries or tears (calf, hamstring, quadriceps, gluteals, back, shoulder, arms
Tendon related pain (tendinopathy) for Achilles, Plantar Fascia, Patella/quadriceps, gluteal, hamstring and shoulder
Post surgery and return to sport
Counter Movement Jump
Why it’s done:
Assessing our ability to express strength in an explosive manner, while assessing how we perform a landing component.
What information it gives us:
Concentric Impulse and Eccentric Deceleration Impulse (n/s) allow us to look at the force applied in both the take off and landing in the time performed. This also provides insight into limb asymmetry with ‘power production’, with Peak Landing Force Asymmetry % uncovering any bias due to strength or postoperative factors.
Jump height (cm) describes the maximum vertical height of a movement involving air time that the body reaches.
Peak Power (W/kg) then allows our data to be made relative to body weight (and can compare to others).
Why is this information useful?
This test provides information for both – improvements in jumping performance and lower body power, and also how we are coordinating limbs with jumping and landing tasks which may be a big focus when returning from injury.
Hop Tests / Drop Jumps
Why it’s done:
Performed as a means for measuring our low limb ‘stiffness’ which can play a big role in improving our running efficiency and jump performance.
What information it gives us:
Ground Contact Time is an important metric when aiming to improve the efficiency of each step we take.
RSI or Reactive Strength Index (m/s) is a measurement of reactive jump capacity or ankle ‘stiffness’ and often displays how athlete’s handle plyometric exercises. This is displayed as the ratio between the jump height and the contact time.
Why is this information useful?
This information allows us to assess improvements or lagging components of our lower limb stiffness. Lower limb stiffness is referring to our ‘elastic and springy’ qualities that ultimately improve running and jumping efficiency, while also aiming to reduce injury risk by decreasing ground contact times.
ASH Shoulder Test; Shoulder I – T – Y
Why it’s done:
Assessing shoulder strength through 3 common positions for overhead athletes and shoulder rehabilitation.
What information it gives us:
Peak force (N) is the maximum amount of force exerted from the body through a single movement.
% Peak Force Asymmetry will provide insight into any deficits in strength from one limb to another.
Impulse (n/s) is the measure of force over time and how we create momentum. A greater impulse means we can apply force at a quicker rate, resulting in improvements in tasks such as bowling, swimming, or serving a tennis ball.
Why is this information useful?
This information can assist in guiding return to play – and also assess upper body strength for performance in our sport.
If you are interested in our Lower body or Upper body athlete profiling / VALD Force Decks testing system – please contact us using the form below or by calling us on 02920 76200 or eMail; info@prosportsmedicine.co.uk
Anyone from all ages can benefit from the Force Decks, from a complete novice to sport/exercise to very experienced.
The data will show the results that are specific to your goals and needs.
Specifically, the Force Decks will help those who want to improve their sport and exercise performance.
This includes:
Sports Clubs
Players can be tested in groups for a range of tests. The Force Decks are portable and can be used indoor and outdoor. Group testing is great for inter club competition, and recording progress for preseason.
Pre-Post surgery
Discover the differences between injured & non-injured limbs pre-surgery and create clear goals for a safe return to exercise, sport or lifestyle post surgery.
Gym/Power lifting
Analyse which side works the most during compound lifts for Deadlifts, Squats and more inc shoulders and hamstrings. You can also find out how long you can hold you maximal force.
Running, Marathons, Triathlons & Cycling
Establish which leg is weaker and at greater risk of injury before or during training for an event/season. Analyse strength and load capacity of muscle groups (gluts, hamstrings, quads & calves) and compare L & R leg/shoulder.
Athletics
Measure how quick you can produce force for your sport, vertical jump height and how well you can absorb and release load for assessing injury risk.
Football & Rugby
Assess the quality of your balance, ability to land and hop to the side, and how fast and jump on one or both legs for heading/competing for the ball.
Measure the ability of your legs & shoulders to improve your tackle technique, running, agility, scrummaging power, leg/shoulder strength for tackling, and single leg stability to change direction for a tackle or landing from a high ball.
A single test that will help you identify a spefic weakness you may have which will help you and/or your physio/coach to more accurately adapt your rehab/training and guide your graded return to contact sport or running
This includes:
- ASH Test for shoulder strength & power for return to contact sport decision making
- A Lower limb test; such as an Isometric calf strength or isometric hamstring test, for a return to running decision
– Includes a thorough reporting of findings
Suitable for: Anyone with an injury who is at the middle or late stages of their rehab (2 – 3months+).
Price: £90.00
A battery of tests that will help you identify any weaknesses or asymmetries you may have by using a number of tests.
The results will help you and/or your physio/coach establish your baseline or more accurately design your end stage rehab and guide your return to play.
Options include:
Upper Limb Battery (2-4 tests)
- ASH Test for shoulder strength & power for return to contact sport decision making
- Upper limb plyometric testing
OR
Lower Limb Battery (2-4 tests)
- Lower limb isometric tests; such as Isometric calf strength or isometric hamstring test
- Lower limb plyometric tests such as; CMJ / Drop Jumps / Single leg jumps
– Package includes a thorough report on findings and recommendations on how to address issues / guide rehabilitation
Suitable for:
Those wishing to establish a baseline ahead of a competitive season.
Those with a lower limb or upper limb injury that is being rehabilitated following a surgical or non-surgical management approach and are working towards a return to sport.
Not suitable for: People who are currently injured or not at the end stage of rehab
Price: £150.00
A full testing profile of 5 or more tests is ideal for those individuals who may be looking to reduce risk of injury by getting a baseline identifying any weaknesses or asymmetries.
This is also an ideal option for any individual looking to obtain a comprehensive testing profile prior to return to sport or competition
Full profile of Upper limb & Lower Limb tests (5+Tests)
- ASH Test for shoulder strength & power
- Upper limb plyometric testing
- Lower limb isometric tests; such as Isometric calf strength or isometric hamstring test
- Lower limb plyometric tests such as; CMJ / Drop Jumps / Single leg jumps
– Package includes a thorough report on findings and recommendations on how to address issues / guide rehabilitation
Suitable for: Those wishing to get a baseline profile of their current strength and power.
Those with a lower limb injury or upper limb injury that has been rehabilitated following a surgical or non-surgical management approach and are working towards a return to sport.
Not suitable for: People who are currently injured or not at the end stage of rehab
Price: £250.00
