Enhancing Patient Care with Advanced Technology: How VALD DynaMo, and ForceDecks Are Transforming Physiotherapy

Enhancing Patient Care with Advanced Technology: How VALD DynaMo, and ForceDecks Are Transforming Physiotherapy

by | Feb 13, 2025 | Active Health Blogs

In the ever-evolving world of physiotherapy, precision and accuracy are key to effective patient management. At Active Health Waikato, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care by incorporating cutting-edge technology into our assessments and treatment plans. That’s why we use VALD DynaMo, and ForceDecks—advanced systems designed to accurately measure strength and function, helping us tailor rehabilitation programs for optimal recovery.

 

Why Objective Testing Matters in Physiotherapy

Traditional strength and function assessments rely heavily on subjective measures, such as manual muscle testing or patient-reported outcomes. While these methods provide valuable insights, they lack the precision needed to track progress accurately. With objective data from VALD DynaMo, and ForceDecks, we can:

  • Identify strength deficits and imbalances with greater accuracy
  • Track progress over time with measurable outcomes
  • Customise rehabilitation programs based on real data
  • Reduce injury risk by ensuring patients regain full function before returning to activity

By integrating these technologies, we take the guesswork out of rehabilitation, giving our patients the best possible chance of a full and lasting recovery.

 

VALD: High-Tech Performance Testing

VALD is a leading provider of human measurement technology, offering a range of innovative systems designed for strength testing, movement analysis, and injury prevention. At Active Health, we utilise VALD to assess key functional movements, providing real-time feedback that enhances our clinical decision-making. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, looking to improve athletic performance, or seeking to prevent future issues, VALD allows us to accurately measure your progress and adjust treatment accordingly.

DynaMo: Portable Strength and Range of Motion Testing

DynaMo is a handheld dynamometer that enables precise testing of muscle strength and joint range of motion. Unlike traditional muscle testing, which relies on therapist interpretation, DynaMo provides quantifiable force measurements to assess muscular imbalances and track rehabilitation progress. This allows us to:

  • Identify specific muscle weaknesses
  • Monitor improvements in strength over time
  • Ensure that patients are meeting strength benchmarks before returning to full activity

ForceDecks: Measuring Functional Movement with Precision

ForceDecks is an advanced force plate system that evaluates balance, stability, and neuromuscular control. This technology is particularly beneficial for:

  • Post-injury rehabilitation – ensuring patients regain proper movement mechanics
  • Return-to-sport assessments – reducing the risk of re-injury by confirming sports-specific strength, reactive strength, stability and function are restored
  • Fall prevention – identifying balance deficits in older adults and creating targeted interventions

By incorporating ForceDecks into our assessments, we gain valuable insights into movement efficiency, helping us design more effective rehabilitation strategies.

How This Technology Benefits You

At Active Health, our goal is to provide evidence-based, data-driven physiotherapy to support your recovery and performance. With VALD, DynaMo, and ForceDecks, we can: 

✔️Accurately diagnose strength deficits and functional limitations
✔️Develop personalised treatment plans based on real data
✔️Monitor progress with objective metrics, ensuring continuous improvement
✔️ Provide better outcomes, reducing recovery time and injury recurrence

 

Ready to Take Your Recovery to the Next Level?

If you’re looking for precision-driven, high-performance physiotherapy, our team at Active Health Waikato is here to help. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or striving to improve your athletic performance, our advanced assessment tools ensure you receive the most effective treatment possible.

 

Book an appointment today and experience the difference that cutting-edge technology can make in your recovery journey!

All images in this blog were taken during a VALD workshop for our new grads and physios from other clinics! 

Keeping Your Body Healthy

Keeping Your Body Healthy

by | Oct 23, 2024 | Active Health Blogs

Keeping your body moving is crucial to maintaining autonomy at all ages. Here are some useful tips from our physiotherapist to help keep your body healthy.

Take regular breaks

Taking regular hourly breaks while working in prolonged positions will help relieve muscle and joint stiffness. Take a walk, stretch, or stand up – try and move your body. A change in position will also help improve circulation to your lower body as well!

Posture

The way we sit and hold ourselves affects where the load is placed in our body. Areas of the body, like the neck and back, can carry increased stress and tension if held in sustained positions. Keep a conscious effort not to slouch to prevent pain and dysfunction.

Exercise

30 minutes of moderate intensity activity a day is proven to have significant health benefits for our hearts, bodies, and minds. It prevents and manages a variety of diseases as well as being good for the mind. Strength training is also an important part of looking after our body for building muscle mass, protecting bone health and prevent injury.

Stretching

Flexibility is a key component of a healthy body so stretching after you exercise is important to minimize injury. It keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, which is needed to maintain range of motion in the joints.

Balance

Balance is an important aspect of health. Incorporating balance exercises into your routine will improve mobility, joint stability and body awareness as well as reduce the risk of falls. Try standing on one leg while you brush your teeth or while you wait for the jug to boil.

POLICE method

After sustaining a soft tissue injury, we recommend you use the POLICE method straight away to aid your recovery – protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation.

Ergonomics

An ergonomically correct workstation helps to maintain a healthy posture and prevent work-related injuries. Both the height and distance of the computer, chair and desk has a direct impact on your posture. Discuss your work desk set up with your physiotherapist to ensure your body is supported and well aligned.

By Charlotte Hopcroft – Physiotherapist at Active Health Christchurch

Breathing your way to better asthma.

Breathing your way to better asthma.

by | Jul 6, 2023 | Active Health Blogs, Christchurch, Physiotherapy

Inhalers are essential to managing asthma, but did you know, taking your reliever inhaler
more than two days a week, shows your asthma isn’t controlled.


Maybe the dose of your preventer is not right, or you’re not using your inhaler correctly.
Smoking cessation, keeping active and weight loss are also recommended in the NZ Asthma
Guidelines 2020.


What is often forgotten is HOW you are breathing. This isn’t doing some crazy technique
where you jump in the snow in your underwear, but learning to breathe well and adaptably,
all the time. Research shows that improving breathing in asthmatics reduces symptoms and
inhaler use.


When we breathe, it should be silently through the nose and your upper belly should go
gently outwards. The breath out should be relaxed and twice as long as the breath in.
Asthmatics habitually try to get air in as easily as possible, leading to shallow mouth
breathing and a short exhale. This is how we breathe when stressed and makes asthma
worse.


Thinking about nose/belly breathing and a long-controlled exhale means the air you breathe
in is clean, warm and moist (that’s the nose’s job), that you are relaxed and there is plenty of
space to get the next breath in. Try humming, this helps keep the nose ready and active, it
also gives you a long exhale!


The better you breathe at rest, the harder it is for your asthma symptoms to take hold.

Written by Catherine George.

How to prepare for this Rugby season and avoid a rugby injury

How to prepare for this Rugby season and avoid a rugby injury

by | May 5, 2023 | Active Health Blogs

Rugby season is just around the corner and now is the time to start preparing for the upcoming games (If you haven’t started already!). Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new player, there are several key steps you can take to ensure you’re in top physical and mental shape for the season.

Let’s talk about the importance of proper conditioning recovery, and nutrition in order to prevent injury and have a successful rugby season.

Training and Conditioning.

As the rugby season approaches, it’s important to focus on building a strong base of cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength. Appropriate conditioning will ensure you have the endurance to last through the entire game, as well as the power to perform at your best when the time comes.

A good training program should include a mix of on-field and off-field exercises, such as skills training, sprints, weightlifting, and plyometrics. A comprehensive training program should also incorporate flexibility and mobility exercises to help aid recovery and improve the ability of your muscles to perform when needed.

Rugby Injury Recovery.

A good training program should ensure that you are getting enough rest and recovery time. Taking the time to properly recover will allow your body to repair and come back stronger for the next training session or game. Unfortunately, overtraining can lead to burnout and injury, so make sure to listen to your body and take rest days as needed. This can include getting enough sleep, stretching, and foam rolling.

Nutrition and Hydration.

Proper nutrition and hydration are crucial for optimal performance on the rugby field. Eating nutrient-dense foods, such as lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats, will provide your body with the necessary fuel to perform at your best. It is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and electrolyte-rich fluids throughout the day.

Not only will proper nutrition and hydration improve your performance, but they will also help to prevent injuries and fatigue. Adequate fuel and hydration can be the difference between a winning performance and an injury-plagued one.

Rugby Injury Prevention.

Injury prevention is crucial for a successful and enjoyable rugby season. Common rugby injuries include soft tissue sprains, strains, and contusions. A comprehensive training program, proper recovery and appropriate nutrition will all contribute to preventing such injuries. Key aspects of injury prevention include completing a good warm-up to ensure you are physically and mentally prepared to take the field.

A good warm-up could include a variety of jogging and dynamic stretching, such as leg swings and arm circles. Another important aspect of injury prevention is having proper technique and form. Unfortunately, incorrect technique with aspects of the game such as tackling, scrummaging, and rucking can lead to injury. Therefore, it is crucial to take your time and perfect your skills.

Additionally, it is important to listen to your body and not push through pain. If an injury does occur, it is crucial to seek advice from a health professional. At Active Health, we understand the unique needs of rugby players and are dedicated to helping individuals achieve their goals and prevent future injury.  We will be able to facilitate your healing and recovery from injury, as well as work alongside you to plan a return to play. Incorporating these injury prevention strategies and seeking professional and individualized advice will optimally lead to a more successful and most importantly, enjoyable rugby season.

To book a visit simply select your location: Christchurch | Rangiora | Hamilton