What is VALD, and how does it help Sports Rehab Recovery?
VALD is a technology that helps measure different aspects of strength and performance in athletes, especially after an injury or surgery. This system includes devices like the DynaMo, which measures how much force a muscle can produce, and ForceDecks, which are used to track things like jump height and balance. This technology is an innovative technique that allows both patients and therapists to see day by day, week by week, and month by month the benchmarks and tangible progress a patient is making in recovery.
What is the DynaMo?
A key tool in sports rehab is the DynaMo, which measures the force your muscles can produce. For example, it can assess the strength of your quadriceps (front thigh muscles) and hamstrings (back thigh muscles), which is crucial after injuries like ACL surgery. By comparing the strength between your injured and healthy leg, your therapist can pinpoint areas that need more attention during your rehab.
What are ForceDecks?
VALD also includes ForceDecks, which are plates used to measure your jump performance. These tests assess how high you can jump and whether you favor one leg over the other. This is important for tracking your recovery and performance as you transition from rehab to performance training. By setting benchmarks early in the rehab process, your therapist can show you how your performance has improved over time.
For example, if you’re about to start training for your sport again, the ForceDeck results can provide a baseline to ensure your body is ready to meet the demands of your respective sport. Watching your jump height improve week by week not only shows progress but also helps you feel more confident in your recovery.
Vald DynaMo measuring force.
Why Seeing and Knowing Your Progress MATTERS
One of the most powerful aspects of VALD technology is its ability to track your progress in real time. You can see your performance data—like muscle strength or jump height—and watch your improvements unfold over time. This visual feedback is incredibly motivating, especially when recovery feels slow and you’re uncertain about how far you’ve come.
When you see how much you’ve improved, it allows you to see how far you are progressing from week to week on your journey and assess how far there is left to go. Whether it’s seeing an increase in muscle strength or a better jump height, these measurable milestones show you that progress is being made, providing a huge mental boost during rehab.
When returning to sports, it is the surgeon or doctor who officially clears an athlete to resume their activities. Having tangible data can provide the necessary confidence and evidence that an athlete is genuinely ready to return, as personal feelings can sometimes be misleading compared to objective data.
This information sharing also allows physical therapists to communicate with performance teams pre-emptively so that imbalances and weaknesses can be addressed BEFORE the injury occurs or just for overall general improvement.
As technology evolves, Physical Therapy advances, and people get better faster!
VALD technology is transforming physical therapy by making rehab more precise and motivating. By tracking your muscle strength and jump performance with tools like the DynaMo and ForceDecks, you can see clear, measurable progress throughout your recovery. This data not only helps your therapist ensure safe and effective rehab but also boosts your peace of mind. As you track your progress and see how far you’ve come, you stay motivated, engaged, and empowered in your recovery process.
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