How ForceDeck Plates Help You Get Back to What You Love
A good recovery plan, particularly a post-surgical one, works best when it’s designed around how your body performs. And to that, you need reliable, accurate data about your strength, movement, and balance–both before and after your procedure.
That’s why the team at Peak To Shore Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine uses ForceDecks technology from VALD as part of our comprehensive rehabilitation programs. For athletes and active adults looking to return to sport after surgery, ForceDecks testing offers valuable insights that can support a safer, more effective recovery.
A Closer Look at ForceDeck Plates
A Closer Look at ForceDeck Plates
ForceDecks are advanced force plates that measure how your body interacts with the ground during movement. During testing, you’ll stand, balance, jump, squat, or perform other movements on the plates while they collect detailed information about how force travels through your body.
We typically use them to assess:
- Balance and stability
- Strength differences between sides of the body
- Jumping and landing mechanics
- Power production
- Movement symmetry
- Weight distribution
The Importance of Objective Data
One of the greatest benefits of ForceDecks testing is the ability to objectively measure progress. Many people judge their recovery based on pain levels or other symptoms. While monitoring these signs is important, they don’t always tell the whole story.
For example, an athlete recovering from surgery might think he’s ready to get back on the field because he’s no longer experiencing any pain or movement limitations. However, his ForceDeck analysis shows he still has some underlying strength deficits that need to be addressed before a full return.
What Can You Expect During Testing?
Our patients are often surprised by how simple the test is. Most of the hard work is going on behind the scenes, as the plates themselves gather thousands of data points that would be impossible to measure with the naked eye.
The Assessment Process
- Your physiotherapist explains each test.
- You perform a series of guided movements, including sport-specific movements that can identify weaknesses or movement patterns that could affect performance.
- The software analyzes your results.
- Your physiotherapist reviews the findings with you and discusses the next steps.
The result is a clear picture of how your body is functioning today and where improvements can be made.
2 Ways ForceDecks Testing Can Benefit You
A Valuable Tool Before and After Surgery
At Peak To Shore Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine, we often use ForceDecks as part of our post-surgical rehabilitation programs.
We start with a test before you ever go into surgery to establish a baseline and create a detailed record of how your body functioned before the procedure. This lets us know the specific goals you need to work towards during rehab.
Following surgery, repeat assessments allow us to compare your current performance against those original measurements. This information allows us to more easily answer several key questions:
- Has your strength returned?
- Is your balance improving?
- Are both sides of the body working and recovering similarly?
- Is the surgical limb exerting effective force?
These insights allow us to guide your rehab exercise progress in a way that will most benefit you. The best rehabilitation program is one that’s focused on areas like strength, mobility, and neuromuscular control (your body’s ability to coordinate movement). ForceDecks provide valuable information that helps direct these rehabilitation strategies more precisely.
An Ally in Helping Athletes Safely Return to Sports
ForceDeck testing is especially beneficial for athletes recovering from surgery, as returning to sport involves several subtle skills that might be hard to notice without testing.
For example, a baseball pitcher will need to generate force efficiently through the legs and trunk before returning to the mound. A rock climber will need balanced strength and stability throughout the body before tackling challenging routes again.
ForceDecks can identify these subtle deficits that may otherwise go unnoticed. By measuring how the body produces and absorbs force, we can determine whether an athlete is meeting important physical benchmarks before returning to competition.
Take the Guesswork Out of Recovery
At Peak To Shore Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine, we guide rehabilitation based on data, not assumptions. ForceDecks testing gives our team clear, measurable information about how the body is functioning and how rehabilitation is progressing.
To learn more about how our team uses ForceDecks testing and whether or not it can support your recovery, schedule an initial appointment today.
Schedule an Appointment
Amy Kress
Originally from Oakville, Ontario, Amy spent many weekends growing up in Collingwood, where she developed a lifelong passion for the outdoors and an active lifestyle. She competed as a ski racer with the Georgian Peaks Ski Club and later raced two years of FIS with the SOD Ski Team.
In 2016, Amy suffered an ACL tear during training and spent nine months in physiotherapy working hard to return to the slopes. That experience inspired her career in physiotherapy and her commitment to helping others get back to doing what they love.
Amy completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in Rehabilitation Sciences in 2023. During her studies, she worked with the University of Waterloo Women’s Soccer Team as a student therapist, helping athletes recover from injury and return to peak performance. She then earned her Master of Physiotherapy degree from McMaster University in 2025. Having participated in alpine skiing, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and Tae Kwon Do, Amy is passionate about movement and helping people reach their full potential. Outside the clinic, you’ll find her mountain biking, skiing, strength training, tackling the occasional Spartan Race, or hiking with her dog and best friend, Maple.
Book an AppointmentPatient Success Story
Adam is knowledgeable, engaging, and easy to work with. As a Georgian Bay surfer and skier, he understands the importance of staying active. As a 78-year-old golfer currently sidelined by this injury, I truly appreciate his approach and support throughout my recovery.
I highly recommend Peak to Shore Physiotherapy and their excellent team.”
Golf Season Is Here
As golf season starts to ramp up, a sport-specific workout can help make the transition back onto the course smoother, improve your performance, and reduce your risk of injury.
Try This Golf-Focused Workout
- Set A: Banded Golf Swing + Squat with Banded Step-Out
- Set B: Banded Kneeling Lateral Raise + I-Y-T Raises
- Set C: Lunge Woodchopper + Banded Dead Bug
- Complete 10–12 reps of each exercise
- Perform each superset for 3 rounds before moving to the next set
This workout targets mobility, stability, strength, and rotational power—all key components of an efficient golf swing.
Have questions about golf-related aches, pains, or improving your performance this season? Our team at Peak to Shore Physiotherapy is here to help.
Watch The Full Exercise Demo
Follow along with Amy as she demonstrates each exercise in this golf-specific workout.
Asian Chicken Slaw
Packed with lean protein, crisp vegetables, and a flavorful sesame-ginger dressing, this Asian Chicken Slaw is a refreshing meal that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or post-workout fuel.
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cabbage slaw mix
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Dressing
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Directions
- Combine cabbage, chicken, bell pepper, carrots, green onions, and cilantro in a large bowl.
- Whisk together all dressing ingredients until well combined.
- Pour dressing over the slaw mixture and toss thoroughly. Top with sesame seeds before serving.
- Refrigerate for 15–20 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Serve chilled and enjoy.
High in protein, loaded with crunchy vegetables, and full of fresh flavor—perfect for supporting an active lifestyle.
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manager@peaktoshorephysiotherapy.com