# https://valdhealth.com llms.txt

> VALD Health specializes in cutting-edge technology designed to assess and monitor physical performance, offering clinicians and patients tools for comprehensive profiling, effective rehabilitation, and streamlined management to enhance health and recovery outcomes.

- [VALD Performance | Contacta](https://valdhealth.com/es/contact): Póngase en contacta.
- [VALD Performance | Contacta](https://valdhealth.com/es/contact): Póngase en contacta.
- [DynaMo | Intuitive and versatile handheld dynamometers](https://valdhealth.com/products/dynamo): Push, pull, grip and ROM. Hundreds of tests from the palm of your hand with our handheld dynamometers.
- [HumanTrak | Movement analysis system](https://valdhealth.com/products/humantrak): 3D motion capture and biomechanical analysis in a portable, plug-and-play system.
- [DynaMo | Dinamómetros manuales intuitivos y versátiles](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/dynamo): Empuje, tracción, agarre y ROM. Cientos de pruebas desde la palma de su mano con nuestros dinamómetros portátiles.
- [DynaMo | Dynamomètres portables intuitifs et polyvalents](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/dynamo): Poussez, tirez, saisissez et faites des mouvements de rotation. Des centaines de tests au creux de votre main grâce à nos dynamomètres portables.
- [HumanTrak | Système d'analyse du mouvement](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/humantrak): Capture de mouvement en 3D et analyse biomécanique dans un système portable et prêt à l'emploi.
- [HumanTrak | Sistema de análisis del movimiento](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/humantrak): Captura de movimiento 3D y análisis biomecánico en un sistema portátil plug-and-play.
- [NordBord | The gold standard in hamstring testing](https://valdhealth.com/products/nordbord): The fastest, easiest and most proven system for testing hamstring strength in the field or in the clinic.
- [SmartSpeed | Portes de synchronisation de nouvelle génération](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/smartspeed): Système de vitesse facile à utiliser pour mesurer la vitesse, l'agilité et la réactivité, les sauts et plus encore.
- [SmartSpeed | Compuertas temporizadoras de nueva generación](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/smartspeed): Sistema de puerta de cronometraje fácil de usar para medir la velocidad, la agilidad y la reactividad, los saltos y mucho más.
- [SmartSpeed | Next-generation timing gates](https://valdhealth.com/products/smartspeed): Easy-to-use timing gate system for measuring speed, agility and reactivity, jumps and more.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdhealth.com/contact): Get in touch.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdhealth.com/fr/contact): Prenez contact avec nous.
- [ForceFrame | Fast and adaptable strength training and testing ](https://valdhealth.com/products/forceframe): Repeatable and intuitive strength training and testing for every major joint in the body.
- [MoveHealth | Exercise prescription app for clinicians and patients](https://valdhealth.com/products/movehealth): Exercise program builder for practitioners and guided exercise for clients, for free.
- [MoveHealth | Application de prescription d'exercices pour les cliniciens et les patients](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/movehealth): Programme d'exercices pour les praticiens et exercices guidés pour les clients, gratuitement.
- [MoveHealth | Aplicación de prescripción de ejercicio para médicos y pacientes](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/movehealth): Creador de programas de ejercicios para profesionales y ejercicios guiados para clientes, gratis.
- [Organizaciones | Tecnología para cualquier definición de rendimiento](https://valdhealth.com/es/organizations): La tecnología VALD está diseñada para el rendimiento humano, sea cual sea su forma.
- [Tecnología para el rendimiento humano | VALD Performance](https://valdhealth.com): La tecnología VALD se utiliza y goza de la confianza de organizaciones de alto rendimiento de todo el mundo para medir, gestionar y mejorar equipos y deportistas.
- [VALD Performance | Política de Cookies](https://valdhealth.com/es/policies/cookie-policy): Con herramientas de medición objetivas, recopilación de datos intuitiva y perspectivas procesables, la tecnología VALD ayuda a los médicos a medir el progreso de los pacientes y a tomar decisiones de tratamiento basadas en datos.
- [Integraciones | Integraciones sin coste adicional](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/integrations): Los sistemas VALD se integran con una serie de conocidas herramientas de software de rendimiento para ayudarle a agilizar sus flujos de trabajo y garantizar que sus datos están exactamente donde los necesita, cuando los necesita.
- [VALD Hub | Todos sus datos de rendimiento físico en un solo lugar](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/valdhub): Incluido en todos los productos VALD sin coste adicional, VALD Hub se sitúa en el corazón de los sistemas VALD.
corazón de los sistemas VALD.
- [ForceDecks | Plataformas de fuerza portátiles, potentes y fáciles de usar](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/forcedecks): Evalúe saltos, fuerza, asimetría y mucho más. Detecte y evalúe más de 20 movimientos diferentes automáticamente con nuestras plataformas de fuerza.
- [NordBord | La prueba de referencia en isquiotibiales](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/nordbord): El sistema más rápido, sencillo y probado para comprobar la fuerza de los isquiotibiales sobre el terreno o en la clínica.
- [ForceFrame | Entrenamiento y pruebas de fuerza rápidos y adaptables](https://valdhealth.com/es/products/forceframe): Entrenamiento de fuerza y pruebas repetibles e intuitivas para todas las articulaciones principales del cuerpo.
- [Productos | Herramientas que le ayudan a medir lo que importa](https://valdhealth.com/es/products): Los sistemas VALD ofrecen una gama de herramientas que le permiten medir, controlar y mejorar casi cualquier función musculoesquelética importante, independientemente de sus objetivos de rendimiento.
- [Aplicaciones | Soluciones de rendimiento, centralizadas](https://valdhealth.com/es/applications): Informes para atletas individuales, grupos y equipos, datos normativos y mucho más, todo en una plataforma centralizada.
- [Rendimiento deportivo | Tecnología para rendir en el campo](https://valdhealth.com/es/sports): Cancha, campo, agua, pista y deportes de motor. La tecnología VALD ayuda a medir, controlar y mejorar el rendimiento en todos los deportes.
- [ForceDecks | Portable, powerful and easy-to-use force plates](https://valdhealth.com/products/forcedecks): Assess jumps, strength, asymmetry and more. Detect and assess over 20 different movements automatically with our force plates.
- [VALD Hub | All your physical performance data in one place](https://valdhealth.com/products/valdhub): Included with all VALD products at no additional cost, VALD Hub sits at the 
heart of VALD’s systems.
- [Integrations | Integrations at no additional cost](https://valdhealth.com/products/integrations): VALD systems integrate with a range of popular performance software tools to help streamline your workflows and ensure your data is exactly where you need it, when you need it.
- [Products | Tools that help you measure what matters](https://valdhealth.com/products): VALD systems offer a range of tools allowing you to measure, monitor and improve nearly any major musculoskeletal function, no matter your performance goals.
- [Applications | Performance solutions, centralized](https://valdhealth.com/applications): Reporting for individual athletes, groups and teams, normative data and much more - all in one centralized platform.
- [Sports Performance | Technology for performance on the field](https://valdhealth.com/sports): Court, field, water, track and motor sports. VALD technology helps measure, monitor and improve performance for every sport.
- [Technology for human performance | VALD Performance](https://valdhealth.com): VALD technology is used and trusted in high performance organizations around the world to measure, manage and improve teams and athletes.
- [Organizations | Technology for any definition of performance ](https://valdhealth.com/organizations): VALD technology is designed for human performance, no matter what shape or form that takes.
- [Produits | Outils qui vous aident à mesurer ce qui compte](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products): Les systèmes VALD offrent une gamme d'outils permettant de mesurer, de contrôler et d'améliorer presque toutes les fonctions musculo-squelettiques majeures, quels que soient vos objectifs de performance.
- [VALD Performance - Politique en matière de cookies](https://valdhealth.com/fr/policies/cookie-policy): Grâce à des outils de mesure objectifs, une collecte de données intuitive et des informations exploitables, la technologie VALD aide les cliniciens à mesurer les progrès des patients et à prendre des décisions thérapeutiques fondées sur des données.
- [Technologie pour la performance humaine | VALD Performance](https://valdhealth.com): La technologie VALD est utilisée et reconnue par des organisations très performantes dans le monde entier pour mesurer, gérer et améliorer les équipes et les athlètes.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdhealth.com/fr/contact): Prenez contact avec nous.
- [Intégrations | Intégrations sans frais supplémentaires](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/integrations): Les systèmes VALD s'intègrent à une gamme d'outils logiciels de performance populaires pour aider à rationaliser vos flux de travail et garantir que vos données se trouvent exactement là où vous en avez besoin, quand vous en avez besoin.
- [VALD Hub | Toutes vos données de performance physique en un seul endroit](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/valdhub): Inclus dans tous les produits VALD sans coût supplémentaire, VALD Hub est au cœur des systèmes de VALD.
au cœur des systèmes VALD.
- [ForceDecks | Plateformes de force portables, puissantes et faciles à utiliser](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/forcedecks): Évaluez les sauts, la force, l'asymétrie et bien plus encore. Détectez et évaluez automatiquement plus de 20 mouvements différents grâce à nos plateformes de force.
- [NordBord | L'étalon-or du test des ischio-jambiers](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/nordbord): Le système le plus rapide, le plus simple et le plus éprouvé pour tester la force des ischio-jambiers sur le terrain ou en clinique.
- [ForceFrame | Entraînement et tests de force rapides et adaptables](https://valdhealth.com/fr/products/forceframe): Entraînement et test de force répétables et intuitifs pour toutes les principales articulations du corps.
- [Applications | Solutions de performance, centralisées](https://valdhealth.com/fr/applications): Rapports pour les athlètes individuels, les groupes et les équipes, données normatives et bien plus encore - le tout sur une plateforme centralisée.
- [Organisations - Technologie pour toute définition de la performance](https://valdhealth.com/fr/organizations): La technologie VALD est conçue pour la performance humaine, quelle qu'en soit la forme.
- [Sports Performance | Technologie pour la performance sur le terrain](https://valdhealth.com/fr/sports): Sports de cour, de terrain, d'eau, d'athlétisme et sports motorisés. La technologie VALD permet de mesurer, de contrôler et d'améliorer les performances dans tous les sports.
- [VALD Performance | Cookie Policy](https://valdhealth.com/policies/cookie-policy): With objective measurement tools, intuitive data collection and actionable insights, VALD technology helps clinicians measure patients' progress and make data - informed treatment decisions.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdhealth.com/contact): Get in touch.
- [VALD Performance | News & Case Studies](https://valdhealth.com/news): Explore the latest in human performance technology, research, and product updates from VALD. Stay informed with case studies, expert insights, and innovations.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: The role of neuromuscular inhibition in hamstring strain injury recurrence (Fyfe et al., 2013)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-hamstring-strain-injuries-factors-that-lead-to-injury-and-re-injury-opar-et-al-2012-4): This review paper outlines a theoretical relationship between previous hamstring injury, neuromuscular inhibition and persistent (or possibly even permanent?) changes in biceps femoris fascicle lengths which may increase the risk of injury recurrence. The argument is that hamstring injury recurrence rates will be high unless neuromuscular inhibition is overcome in rehabilitation or post-rehabilitation training.
- [English / European Football Seasons Performance Comparison: 2019-20 & 2020-21](https://valdhealth.com/news/english-european-football-seasons-2019-2020-2021): The following figures show the distribution of Nordic, hip adduction, and countermovement jump (CMJ) results in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. In 2020, the English football leagues were suspended for over three months. Similar interruptions were seen in leagues across Europe. Despite the impact of the global pandemic on the 2019-20 season, the following figures suggest no large differences in key Nordic, hip adduction, and CMJ results between last season and the most recent season.
- [Introducing ForceFrame Max](https://valdhealth.com/news/introducing-forceframe-max): We recently announced the launch of ForceFrame Max, the new addition to our hugely popular ForceFrame line (with our existing ForceFrame model being rebadged to “ForceFrame Fold”). ForceFrame Max is the outcome of over six years of feedback from our clients who have cumulatively performed over 1.2 million ForceFrame tests on over 200,000 athletes and patients.
- [Sprint Performance in Elite Ice Hockey](https://valdhealth.com/news/sprint-performance-in-elite-ice-hockey): Despite known correlations between lower-body strength, power and skating sprint speed, it is unclear which specific components of skating sprint performance are most crucial for an athlete's development and progression through different competitive levels. This study aimed to bridge this gap by identifying key physical capacities influencing essential aspects of skating sprint performance, thereby enabling more focused and effective training strategies for ice hockey athletes at various levels of competition. 
- [European Football Report Season 2019-20: Nordic Strength](https://valdhealth.com/news/nordic-strength): Drawn from VALD’s European Football Report for the 2019-20 season; these figures show the distribution of results for over 21,000 Nordic tests conducted on roughly 3,900 elite football players across the EPL, ECL and UEFA using the NordBord Testing System.
- [What are norms (normative data)?](https://valdhealth.com/news/what-are-norms-and-normative-data): Normative data (or “norms”) are information from a population of interest that establishes a baseline distribution of results for that particular population.
Norms are usually derived from a large sample that is representative of the population of interest. Medical literature will often publish normative data with population sizes of around 50-100 participants. By contrast, VALD norms are based on data from over one million individuals.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Identifying Reliable and Relatable Force–Time Metrics in Athletes (Merrigan et al., 2020)](https://valdhealth.com/news/merrigan-et-al-2020): In non-familiarised athletes, across 2 testing sessions in a one day, most Force-Time metrics were seen to be reliable. Some RFD metrics in both CMJ and IMTP tests along with some Net Force metrics in IMTP testing had a reliability outside predetermined levels (ICC=>0.80 & CV=<10%). There are moderate strength relationships between Concentric Mean Power, Jump Height and RSI-modified with Force at 100-200ms and Peak Force. These results should be treated with caution due the design of the study, which did not allow for familiarization and fatigue may have influenced force production capabilities of the athletes.
- [Pre-season assessments and monitoring: are returning athletes ‘strong enough’ to run fast?](https://valdhealth.com/news/pre-season-assessments-and-monitoring): You are a couple of weeks out from the players returning from their off-season break. The performance team are meeting to iron out the preseason plan and determine what the first couple of weeks of training will look like for the entire playing squad and specifically for various members of the squad. The performance team are crossing their fingers and hoping that the players were diligent and compliant with their offseason training programmes.
- [20 Years of Speed: The Past, Present and Future of SmartSpeed.](https://valdhealth.com/news/20-years-of-speed-the-past-present-and-future-of-smartspeed): Most readers would be aware that VALD recently launched the completely overhauled SmartSpeed Plus following 18 months of research and development since our 2021 acquisition of the original SmartSpeed technology suite from Smartabase (who, in turn, were acquired by Teamworks in January this year).

- [USE CASE: Dynamic Strength Index](https://valdhealth.com/news/dynamic-strength-index-use-case): In this brief use case, we discuss how to interpret and utilise DSI results calculated from a countermovement jump (CMJ) and an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) to help inform an athlete’s training program. For context, we have covered the basic concepts that underpin the Dynamic Strength Index (DSI)
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Monitoring hamstring fascicle length and running (McGrath et al., 2020)](https://valdhealth.com/news/mcgrath-et-al-2020): Hamstring strain injuries remain one of the most common injuries in team sport, despite the increased emphasis on hamstring injury prevention. There is a sound understanding of non-modifiable risk factors such as age and prior injury, and given this, an increased emphasis has been placed on identifying modifiable risk factors and the implementation of interventions that target these modifiable risk factors and potentially mitigate the risk of hamstring strain injury.
- [Eccentric Hamstring Strength Asymmetry among Football and Soccer Athletes](https://valdhealth.com/news/eccentric-hamstring-strength): The study investigates hamstring strength asymmetries in soccer and American football athletes, focusing on how these asymmetries vary with age, sex, sport and skill level. Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) are common in these sports and eccentric strength asymmetry is a contributing factor for HSI. The research aims to determine whether high school athletes show greater asymmetry compared to collegiate and professional athletes and if soccer athletes exhibit greater hamstring asymmetry than American football athletes.
- [Timing Gates 101: An introduction to modern speed assessment](https://valdhealth.com/news/timing-gates-101): In theory, speed is simple. Stride frequency, stride length, foot strike pattern and ground contact time are the four "big rocks" of speed performance. However, measuring and training the specific qualities of speed often requires lab-based equipment or expensive sensors that are inaccessible to many practitioners. 
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Test re-test reliability of single and multijoint strength properties in female Australian football athletes (Kadlec et al., 2021)](https://valdhealth.com/news/single-multijoint-strength-female-football-athletes): Good reliability in multi-joint isometric maximum voluntary contraction testing has been found in elite athletes experienced in strength training. This study aimed to examine test-retest reliability of isometric maximum voluntary contractions in sub-elite female athletes who have had limited experience in resistance training.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Can field based strength tests assess running ability in youth football athletes? (Jones et al., 2021)](https://valdhealth.com/news/field-based-strength-tests-youth-football): The ability of football athletes to cover short distances and change direction quickly is a vital component of on–field performance, often used for talent identification and development. However, there is a limited understanding of how hip and groin strength assessments relate to essential game-based tasks such as sprinting and change of direction for talented youth football athletes. 
- [Leveraging Normative Data for Talent Development in Men’s Football](https://valdhealth.com/news/leveraging-normative-data-for-talent-development-in-mens-football): Talent identification in youth athletes has long been one of the holy grails of professional football, with coaches and teams investing heavily in finding future superstars from around the world. Historically, football clubs have faced challenges in how to obtain and how to make sense of physical capacity testing data of youth athletes.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Hamstring injury prevention for elite football athletes (Chebbi et al., 2020)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-hamstring-injury-prevention-for-elite-football-athletes): This study aimed to identify the impact of a Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training program on hamstring injury rates in a professional football (soccer) team over 5 seasons. The impact of compliance to the NHE training program (i.e. low, moderate and high compliance) on hamstring injury rates was also investigated.
- [Athlete Testing Combine Best Practice Checklist](https://valdhealth.com/news/athlete-testing-combine-checklist): To help run the best event possible, we created this Best Practice Checklist. It is for anyone managing an athlete testing event, from a school carnival to elite combines. The checklist covers key steps for planning, preparing, executing the event and managing post-event activities such as data analysis. 
- [Case Study: DHL Stormers](https://valdhealth.com/news/case-study-dhl-stormers): Based in Cape Town and competing in the transnational United Rugby Championship, which features teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales and South Africa, the Stormers use VALD systems to test and monitor
players as part of their everyday training programs.​ 
- [Inside Elite Baseball Performance with Driveline](https://valdhealth.com/news/inside-elite-baseball-performance-with-driveline): For the last 3 years, Driveline Baseball has incorporated VALD systems such as ForceDecks, DynaMo, and SmartSpeed into their training, profiling and testing process. We wanted to know exactly how these pioneers of baseball performance training implemented our systems to enhance their athlete’s experience. We sat down with Strength & Performance Coaches, Connor White and Zach Settles to learn more.
- [Identifying ACL injury risk factors in female athletes using technology.](https://valdhealth.com/news/identifying-acl-injury-risk-factors): In this article, researchers from Griffith University’s Centre of Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering (GCORE) (Dr Matthew Bourne, Dr Tyler Collings and Benjamin Dutaillis), share their insights into the disproportionately high anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates of female athletes. Furthermore, they provide strategies on how to start addressing this problem through screenings and targeted interventions. We are fortunate to be able to share their normative data for each of their tests which have been obtained from approximately 400 female athletes.
- [Monitoring personnel at the U.S. Department of State – HumanTrak](https://valdhealth.com/news/monitoring-personnel-at-the-u-s-department-of-state): In this case study, we gather insight into how Jacob Walker (Human Performance Optimisation Program Manager, U.S. Department of State) uses HumanTrak to gather data for analysing the injury risk of personnel.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Hamstring strain rehabilitation and re-injury risk (Hickey et al., 2021) (Metadata)](https://valdhealth.com/news/hamstring-strain-rehabilitation-reinjury-risk): Whilst many practitioners prioritise the rehabilitation element of an athlete’s return to play, choosing the best rehabilitation is not a strong enough focus. Consequently, many athletes return to play with an increased risk of re-aggravating their injury.
- [Enhancing Ice Hockey Performance with Technology](https://valdhealth.com/news/enhancing-ice-hockey-performance-with-technology): Ice hockey is a physically demanding sport that requires a mix of skill, speed, physicality and endurance, compounded with a dense competition schedule. With such a physical demand placed on the players, a challenge arises for many teams and performance centers working with these athletes: how do you prepare for such a sport? 
- [Understanding the Countermovement Jump ](https://valdhealth.com/news/understanding-the-countermovement-jump): The countermovement jump (CMJ) is the most popular neuromuscular and physical performance test in the world. It is a fast and effective assessment of the lower limbs that correlates to a myriad of performance qualities present in countless sporting actions. 
- [Normative Data in Youth Academy Football: Impacts on hip and groin injuries.](https://valdhealth.com/news/youth-academy-football-impacts-on-hip-and-groin-injuries-12440): Recently, Football QLD and Alta Allied Health Physiotherapists Brad Moore and Sasha Birge completed an innovative project that collected the first normative dataset for strength and jump performance in Australian youth academy footballers using ForceDecks, NordBord and ForceFrame. The dataset will not only help identify at-risk athletes but also provide benchmarks and criteria for rehabilitation decisions for those that are injured. Most notably, they found that youth athletes with adductor strength more than 30% higher than their abductor strength were more likely to have hip or groin pain – an easy-to-understand, easy-to-measure and easy-to-action takeaway for football physiotherapists and coaches.
- [NBA Offseason Development with the Los Angeles Clippers](https://valdhealth.com/news/offseason-developments-for-success): In the highly competitive world of professional basketball, offseason training and health management are crucial to ensure athletes are prepared for an 82+ game National Basketball Association (NBA) season. The Los Angeles Clippers prioritize their offseason and health screening aspects to stay at the top of their game.
- [From the Diamond to the Clinic: How ForceFrame Training Mode is Changing the Game](https://valdhealth.com/news/diamond-to-clinic-forceframe-training-impact): Matt Witt is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Business Development Manager at VALD. Previously, Matt worked as a Performance Physical Therapist with the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets. Here, he gained an appreciation for using VALD systems as staples in his rehabilitation process and has a unique insight into how they are implemented in elite sports. 
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Considerations when interpreting neuromuscular state in elite Australian Rules Football athletes](https://valdhealth.com/news/interpreting-neuromuscular-state-australian-rules-football-athletes): Neuromuscular function monitoring has become commonplace in elite sport, with an aim to inform fatigue monitoring practices and subsequent athlete management strategies. For the increased use of this monitoring, there are still many complexities in the interpretation of these assessments which present ongoing challenges to performance staff.
- [The Road to Paris: A data-informed approach to Olympic weightlifting](https://valdhealth.com/news/data-informed-approach-to-olympic-weightlifting): In early 2024, members of Team USA Olympic Weightlifting reached out to VALD to learn more about how objective testing technology could help them prepare for the Paris Olympics. 
- [Uniaxial vs. Triaxial Force Plates: How many axes do I need?](https://valdhealth.com/news/uniaxial-vs-triaxial-force-plates): Force plates are now commonplace in strength and conditioning and high-performance environments, playing a key role in providing valuable insights into athlete performance. This is technology which, less than a decade ago, was limited to research facilities due to their cost and size.
- [NBA Profiling and Monitoring](https://valdhealth.com/news/nba-profiling-monitoring-joey-davey): In this interview, we speak with Joey Davey, a Director of Sport Science/Performance Coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Joey provides insights into how to use ForceDecks and DynaMo for player performance optimization strategies, individualized training protocols and innovative testing procedures to ensure basketball players remain prepared for their competition. 
- [RSI-Mod Made Simple](https://valdhealth.com/news/rsi-mod-made-simple): Simply put: RSI-modified (reactive strength index) is a ratio of input to output – the input is represented by time spent on the ground generating the force to jump, and the output is the height of that jump. The latter is relatively easy to measure. The former, not so much.
- [The VALD Pricing Model: Our commitment to innovation](https://valdhealth.com/news/vald-pricing-model): At VALD, we get a lot of questions about our pricing model; how it works, what it includes and excludes, and what it means for our clients. This article will help explain how the VALD pricing model works and why we think it’s the best possible way for us to deliver value to health and performance professionals and the broader musculoskeletal (MSK) industry.
- [HAMSTRING RESEARCH REVIEW](https://valdhealth.com/news/hamstring-research-review): We are commonly asked by our clients about the latest research regarding hamstring injuries and best training practices, so we’ve decided to put together a summary of some of the most significant research published in the last 12 months (updated July 2017).
- [How ForceDecks Minimize Integration Drift](https://valdhealth.com/news/how-forcedecks-minimize-integration-drift): While force plates only directly measure force and time, they can use numerical integration to transform this raw force data into a range of other metrics that give meaningful insights into human motion and neuromuscular performance.
- [Research Summary: ForceDecks Validity and Reliability](https://valdhealth.com/news/forcedecks-validity-and-reliability): This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and concurrent validity of VALD’s ForceDecks Dual Force Plate System against gold standard laboratory force plates across a range of common performance monitoring and rehabilitation-focused assessments.
- [NordBord Testing: New applications for training, monitoring and evaluation](https://valdhealth.com/news/nordbord-testing-new-applications-training-monitoring-evaluation): The NordBord is a widely used tool for hamstring testing, offering valuable insights into isometric (ISO-Prone test) and eccentric (Nordic test) strength. Comparing the peak forces obtained from ISO-Prone and Nordic tests provides practitioners with novel insights that can enhance training prescriptions, progress monitoring and injury risk assessment.  
- [The 80-Second Repeated Squat Jump Test with Matt Jordan, PhD](https://valdhealth.com/news/80-second-repeated-squat-jump-test-matt-jordan): In 2017, Matt Jordan and his research team developed a tool that would change the way fatigue and performance were measured in elite athletes: the 80-second repeated squat jump test. Designed to simulate real-world fatigue conditions, this test became a powerful method for assessing how qualities like neuromuscular control and asymmetry are affected under fatigue.
- [What benefits does VALD Technology offer to Health and Physical Education (HPE) teachers, and how does it align with the curriculum?](https://valdhealth.com/news/vald-technology-in-the-classroom): At the beginning of the 2023 year, Matthew Johnson introduced ForceDecks into his school’s curriculum. We wanted to know more so we caught up with him to find out how he implemented VALD technology, how the school was using technology and what impacts it was having on students and teachers. 

Matthew is an experienced educator and coach with a passion for health and physical education, and strength and conditioning. He is currently the Faculty Leader – Physical Education and an S&C coach (Level 2 – Professional, ASCA) at Ignatius Park College (a secondary school in Australia).
- [A New Era of Testing for Firefighters](https://valdhealth.com/news/a-new-era-of-testing-for-firefighters): Dr. Hugh Fullagar is a Professor of Sports Science at Reykjavik University in Iceland and an Adjunct Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. He has also worked as an applied sports scientist and coach and continues to consult with several professional sporting organizations throughout Europe, Australia and North America. Among these are the National Football League (NFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Medical Centre of Excellence and elite football clubs.
- [Shanghai Q2 Performance: Technology, value and trust](https://valdhealth.com/news/technology-value-and-trust): Q2 Performance is an emerging private performance training and rehabilitation center in Shanghai,  
known for its professional sports science and strength and conditioning (S&C) staff. Q2 Performance offers a range of services to both performance athletes and youth in development, incorporating a myriad of measurement technologies and advanced data analysis to understand and improve the mechanics and performance of its athletic populations. 
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Measurement Properties of [GroinBar] in AFL athletes (Ryan et al., 2018)](https://valdhealth.com/news/measurement-properties-of-groinbar-in-the-afl): The GroinBar proved superior in accuracy to common alternatives (sphygmomanometers and handheld dynamometers) in AFL athletes.  For regular monitoring, 6.3% change week-to-week was found to be the threshold for detecting meaningful change.
- [Professional Football Cheerleading: Redefining art and performance with technology](https://valdhealth.com/news/professional-football-cheerleading): In this Q&A, Alex Milton and Emily Michaelis discuss how a professional football cheerleading performance team integrates technology like ForceDecks into their routines, the challenges they face, and how they’re redefining athlete care in cheerleading.
- [SmartSpeed x USR Integration](https://valdhealth.com/news/smartspeed-x-usr-integration): VALD is excited to announce a new integration between our SmartSpeed Timing Gates and the Universal Speed Rating (USR) system by Spellman Performance. This integration combines VALD’s timing technology with USR’s platform to streamline workflows for speed testing and analysis, delivering actionable insights that support athlete development. 
- [VALD acquires SmartSpeed from Fusion Sport](https://valdhealth.com/news/introducing-smartspeed-vald-new-timing-gate-system): We are excited to announce we have acquired the SmartSpeed Timing Gate System and accompanying SmartJump Portable Jump Mat from Fusion Sport.

SmartSpeed was launched in 2004 as the world’s first wireless timing gate system and has gone on to set the standard for speed and agility testing.
- [Introducing VALD Norms](https://valdhealth.com/news/introducing-vald-norms): We are excited to announce the release of Norms: integrated normative data in VALD Hub. Starting with ForceDecks data then rolling out across all of our products’ datasets in 2024, Norms are another significant milestone on our journey to provide intuitive, actionable insights to our clients and improve outcomes in all settings: healthcare, performance, defense and more.
- [AFLW Normative Data: Nordic, Hip Adduction and CMJ Results](https://valdhealth.com/news/aflw-normative-data-nordic-hip-adduction-and-cmj-results): A distribution of results from over 170 athletes and over 4,000 tests conducted on VALD’s NordBord, ForceFrame, and ForceDecks in professional female Australian Rules Football across Seasons 2020 and 2021.
- [NFL vs NCAA positional comparison: Nordic and CMJ results](https://valdhealth.com/news/nfl-vs-ncaa-positional-comparison-nordic-and-cmj-results): How do National Football League (NFL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes compare when it comes to performance on the Nordic and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests? Tests were conducted on the NordBord and ForceDecks VALD testing systems, respectively.
- [How to use VALD's Excel monitoring dashboard template](https://valdhealth.com/news/how-to-use-excel-monitoring-dashboard-template): This one is for the Excel lovers. We recently did a LinkedIn and Twitter poll on your favourite platform for interacting with your VALD systems data, and Excel was voted No.1.
- [European Football Report Season 2019-20: Hip Adductor Strength](https://valdhealth.com/news/hip-adductor-strength): The following graphs represent the distribution of results from over 8,900 hip adduction tests conducted on over 1,000 athletes using the ForceFrame Testing System during the 2019-20 EPL, ECL, and UEFA seasons.
- [How Technology is Shaping Volleyball Performance](https://valdhealth.com/news/how-technology-is-shaping-volleyball-performance): In 2023, Anthony Cockrill and his team integrated VALD's ForceDecks and DynaMo to fine-tune their approach to volleyball performance. With volleyball placing immense physical demands on athletes – particularly around jumping, hitting and overall explosiveness – technology has become an essential tool for profiling performance and guiding training decisions.
- [Testing neuromuscular strength of pre-professional ballet students with ForceDecks: Royal Ballet School](https://valdhealth.com/news/testing-neuromuscular-strength-royal-ballet-school): The Royal Ballet School has integrated ForceDecks to regularly test its ballet students, ranging from ages 11 to 19 years old, to track and monitor neuromuscular strength and provide rehabilitation.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Isometric vs eccentric testing for assessing hamstring strength of youth alpine ski racing athletes (Luchner et al., 2021)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-youth-alpine-ski-racing-athletes-hamstring-strength): A recent study by Luchner et al. (2021) explored the test-retest reliability of the maximum bilateral eccentric (MBEHS or Nordic) and unilateral isometric (MUIHS) hamstring tests in youth alpine ski racing athletes.
- [How did the Eastern and Western conferences stack up against each other during the 2020-21 NBA season? The following figures show the distribution of results from more than 3000 countermovement jump (CMJ) tests conducted during the 2020-21 season. ](https://valdhealth.com/news/nba-season-2020-2021-countermovement-jump-results): How did the Eastern and Western conferences stack up against each other during the 2020-21 NBA season? The following figures show the distribution of results from more than 3000 countermovement jump (CMJ) tests conducted during the 2020-21 season.
- [Jump Performance: AFL vs NRL 2021](https://valdhealth.com/news/jump-performance-afl-vs-nrl-2021): How does the Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL) stack up in terms of jump performance?
The following data are from countermovement jump, drop jump and hop jump tests conducted across the 2021 season using VALD’s ForceDecks Dual Force Plate System.
- [AFL vs NRL: 2023 Jump Performance](https://valdhealth.com/news/updates-on-jump-performance): The Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL) are two of the largest football codes in Australia, both with athletes who possess unique physical qualities. The ForceDecks Dual Force Plate System have become more and more common across both sports, with usage increasing significantly year-on-year. Now, all men’s NRL and AFL teams use VALD technology with their athletes. The use of this technology continually aids practitioners to physically profile, monitor, and implement specific change at both an individual athlete and team level.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: What is the Dynamic Strength Index?](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-what-is-the-dynamic-strength-index): The concept of profiling the dynamic force capabilities of athletes in relation to their absolute isometric force capabilities is not necessarily new (Sheppard et al., 2011). However with the increased popularity of portable force platforms recently this is being more frequently calculated. Information on the force production characteristics of an athlete can be measured using two performance tests commonly used within testing batteries (Suchomel et al., 2020)
- [Strength Testing in Cycling: Prevention and performance](https://valdhealth.com/news/strength-testing-in-cycling-prevention-and-performance): Remi Mobed is a Consultant Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapist who is currently the rehabilitation lead for the INEOS Grenadiers pro-cycling team and Clinical Director of The Prime Clinic, Warwickshire. 
- [Force Plates 101: What are force plates and why are they used?](https://valdhealth.com/news/force-plates-101-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-used): In the early days of commercialisation, force plates were large, cumbersome, and required manual analysis to transform the raw data collected. This limited their usage to biomechanics laboratories.
- [New ForceDecks Mini: Affordable. Portable. Compact.](https://valdhealth.com/news/introducing-forcedecks-mini-affordable-portable-compact): VALD is pleased to introduce our all-new ForceDecks Mini, our most compact and affordable dual force plate system yet.
- [NFL vs NCAA College Football – Nordic and Hip Ad/Ab strength comparison](https://valdhealth.com/news/nfl-vs-ncaa-college-football-nordic-and-hip-ad-ab-results): Data from over 4 years and more than 9,000 NFL and NCAA football athletes shows that there are little to no differences in the Nordic, hip adduction and hip abduction force between professional and student athletes.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Reduced biceps femoris myoelectrical activity influences eccentric knee flexor weakness after repeat sprint running (Timmins et al. 2014)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-2014-1): Seventeen recreationally active men performed a repeated sprinting protocol with measures of maximal isokinetic strength taken before and after the running in addition to sEMG.  Significant declines in eccentric and concentric knee flexor strength were observed with eccentric biceps femoris myoelectrical activity significantly reduced as well. There were no changes to concentric biceps femoris or medial hamstring myoelectrical activity.
- [How to analyse countermovement jump data using R and RStudio](https://valdhealth.com/news/analyse-countermovement-data-rstudio): Recently on our socials, we asked what platforms you use the most to interact with your VALD data. The most popular platform voted was Excel, which we have created an Excel tutorial and template for. The second most popular platform was R. In response to your feedback, we have created a free workshop that caters for beginners to R (see below). 
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Factors that lead to hamstring strain injury and re-injury (Opar et al., 2012)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-hamstring-strain-injuries-factors-that-lead-to-injury-and-re-injury-opar-et-al-2012-8): This paper is considered the go-to resource for understanding the basics of hamstring strain injury. Covering epidemiology, mechanisms of injury, what we currently know about risk factors, and how we have attempted to tackle these risk factors, this paper gives an overview of the problem at hand. The authors propose a new conceptual framework which could help further understand the undesirable changes to the hamstring muscle structure and function after injury and during the subsequent rehabilitation.
- [Normative data reports now available on VALD Hub](https://valdhealth.com/news/normative-data-reports-vald-hub): We are excited to announce that as a VALD client you can now request normative data reports relevant to your organisation.
- [Female Professional Athletes: Nordic and Hip Ad/Ab Results](https://valdhealth.com/news/female-professional-athletes-nordic-and-hip-ad-ab-results): The following figures highlight the age-based distribution of Nordic, hip adduction and hip abduction strength results from over  300 female athletes across elite Australian rules football, Rugby League, and football (soccer) teams. 
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Is there a correlation between neck strength and concussion?](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-is-there-a-correlation-between-neck-strength-and-concussion): Contact sports such as Rugby Union endure a high prevalence of concussion, resulting in long injury lay-offs and prolonged periods on the sideline for impacted players. 

Repeated concussions in early adulthood can also cause chronic health conditions later in life, placing a heavy burden on the healthcare system and potentially reducing an individual’s quality of life. 
- [Jumping Asymmetries and Risk of Injuries in Preprofessional Ballet ](https://valdhealth.com/news/jumping-asymmetries): The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the associations between interlimb asymmetry during a double-leg countermovement jump (DL-CMJ) and single-leg jump (SLJ) and injury risk in adolescent preprofessional ballet dancers. This research aimed to determine whether the differences in kinetic variables during these jumps and the resulting asymmetries in limb movement could be linked to a higher risk of injuries in these dancers. 
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Eccentric hamstring strength and hamstring injury risk in Australian footballers (Opar et al., 2014)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-strength-injury-risk-afl): Are eccentric hamstring strength and/or between-limb imbalance in eccentric strength, measured during the Nordic hamstring exercise, risk factors for hamstring strain injury (HSI) in Elite Athlete Players? 210 players from 5 AFL clubs had their eccentric strength assessed on the NordBord and were followed during preseason training and the subsequent season.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: A 90 minute soccer match induces eccentric hamstring muscles fatigue (Kakavas et al., 2021)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-a-90-minute-soccer-match-induces-eccentric-hamstring-muscles-fatigue-kakavas-et-al-2021): Hamstring injuries are the most prevalent muscle injuries in both amateur and professional soccer (football) athletes. Previously, eccentric strength deficits and between-limb imbalances have been associated with an increased risk of muscle injuries.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Eccentric knee flexor strength and risk of hamstring injuries in Rugby Union: A prospective study (Bourne et al., 2015)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-hamstring-strength-injury-risk-rugby): Eccentric knee flexor strength does not increase the likelihood of future hamstring strain injury in rugby union players, but imbalance between left and right leg eccentric knee flexor strength does.
- [Sampling Frequency: How much is enough?](https://valdhealth.com/news/sampling-frequency-how-much-is-enough): Accurate biomechanical measurements depend on not only precise measurements but also the speed (specifically, the sampling frequency) of these measurements. Sampling frequency is measured by the number of measurements taken in one second, known as “hertz” (Hz). While modern technology enables very high sampling rates – up to thousands of hertz – the real question is: how much is enough?
- [Hamstring Rehab: Balancing functional progression and underlying deficits](https://valdhealth.com/news/hamstring-rehab-balancing-functional-progression-and-underlying-deficits): Simon Harries is the Manager of Physical Preparation at the NSW Institute of Sport. With more than 15 years of experience as a Strength & Conditioning (S&C) coach and rehab specialist across the Australian Football League (AFL), Rugby League, Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, water polo and a range of individual event sports, he is focused on supporting S&C coaches and physiologists to deliver world-class performance support to their elite athletes. He is also the Founder of Performance Compass, where he supports rehab practitioners in navigating the complexities of rehab environments.
- [The Quadrant of Boom: Sprint speed and hamstring strength](https://valdhealth.com/news/the-quadrant-of-boom-sprint-speed-and-hamstring-strength): Dr. Morgan Williams is a Data Scientist at VALD and Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University’s School of Health Sciences and Social Work. As part of the VALD Data Science Team, Dr. Williams uncovers new insights into VALD data and identifies how they can be used to enhance practice.
- [Doing More with Less: Maximizing performance with technology](https://valdhealth.com/news/doing-more-with-less-maximizing-performance-with-technology): Ahead of her presentation at VALD’s Return to Performance event in Phoenix, Arizona, Heather Farmer, Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), shares how her department uses VALD technology, including ForceFrame, ForceDecks and NordBord, to deliver maximum value across teams, disciplines and budgets. 

From return-to-play to readiness monitoring, Heather outlines the operational strategies and practical wins that have helped her team stretch technology across the full spectrum of athlete care. 
- [MLS data wrap-up: what did strength and power look like in Major League Soccer from 2016 to 2021?](https://valdhealth.com/news/mls-season-data-wrap-up-strength-and-power-2016-2021): In the lead up to the 2021 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup, VALD Data Scientist Josh Ruddy visualised the data from athlete tests conducted on VALD systems since 2016.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Hip strength as an intrinsic risk factor for lateral ankle sprains in youth football athletes (De Ridder et al., 2016)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-hip-strength-as-an-intrinsic-risk-factor-for-lateral-ankle-sprains-in-youth-football-athletes): Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in youth football, and account for approximately 20% of all injuries. While typically a minor injury, repeated ankle sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability or lower activity levels among youth athletes.
- [Establishing Military Shoulder Strength Norms](https://valdhealth.com/news/establishing-military-shoulder-strength-norms): Within specialist military populations, it can be difficult to set specific, functional and standardized goals which is critical to delivering quality rehabilitation outcomes. Joshua Ambler, BSc (Hons), GSR set out to combat this issue.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: What does the rehabilitation and return to sport process look like for an elite footballer following a high grade hamstring injury?](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-managing-rts-of-elite-footballers-following-semimembranosus-reconstruction): Few studies have described the return to sport (RTS) process and presented objective data collected during rehabilitation following injury to the semimembranosus. Accordingly, this case report outlines the management and return to sport (RTS) process of an English Premier League footballer following a high-grade semimembranosus proximal tendon tear and reconstructive surgery.
- [Australian Football League vs National Rugby League: Nordic force across the years (2016-2021)](https://valdhealth.com/news/afl-vs-nrl-nordic-force-across-the-years-2016-2021): The following data are from more than 45,000 and 20,000 Nordic tests conducted in the Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL), respectively, since the introduction of VALD’s NordBord Hamstring Testing System in the 2016 season.
The distribution of results, the median and the interquartile range are displayed for each season. 

- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Can balance deficits following a concussion accurately be measured with self-reported symptoms?](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-self-reported-balance-post-concussion-balance-performance): To determine if self-reported balance symptoms are able to accurately assess balance deficits following a concussion in adolescents.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Return to performance of an elite female footballer following ACL reconstruction](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-return-to-performance-of-an-elite-female-footballer-following-acl-reconstruction): Despite the high severity, and high injury burden of ACL injuries there remains limited information on the return-to-sport (RTS) process, particularly in elite female football players.

This study aimed to follow and document the RTS process, including the gym-based physical preparation, and the on-pitch (sports-specific) reconditioning.
- [If You Can’t See It You Can’t Be It: Breaking down barriers for female athletes.](https://valdhealth.com/news/breaking-down-barriers-for-female-athletes-13035): I recently joined VALD Performance, and I’m using my new position to break down barriers for female athletes around Queensland, Australia and the world. I’ll be doing this by providing access to technology and talent identification so we can match athletes to sports and keep them involved longer, raising awareness on what pathways are available to female athletes. I’m excited to create these new opportunities for a new generation of athletes, but I need your help.
- [Understanding the Plyometric Continuum with ForceDecks](https://valdhealth.com/ko/news/understanding-the-plyometric-continuum-with-forcedecks-3jmopyg7rubr69vfs7zqcz): The Plyometric Continuum (PC) refers to a progressive training approach to improve the body’s ability to store and release elastic energy in the musculotendinous unit for sport-specific activities. The exercises in each phase focus on enhancing utilization of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC).
- [Understanding the Plyometric Continuum with ForceDecks](https://valdhealth.com/news/understanding-the-plyometric-continuum-with-forcedecks): The Plyometric Continuum (PC) refers to a progressive training approach to improve the body’s ability to store and release elastic energy in the musculotendinous unit for sport-specific activities. The exercises in each phase focus on enhancing utilization of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC).
- [Countermovement Rebound Jump (CMRJ) test, with ForceDecks](https://valdhealth.com/news/countermovement-rebound-jump-test-with-forcedecks): We are excited to announce that CMRJ has been added to the ever-growing list of ForceDecks tests. At VALD we strive for continuous improvement in our technologies based on industry trends as well as feedback from our clients. To better understand how and why to use the CMRJ, we’ve invited Dr Paul Read to answer some questions.
- [Leicester City: The science behind their Premier League title](https://valdhealth.com/news/leicester-city-the-science-behind-their-premier-league-title): Leicester City FC’s 2015-16 Premier League title was no fluke, and here the BBC takes a look inside how their brilliant staff engineered one of the greatest underdog victories in sporting history.
- [VALD Injury Prediction Statement](https://valdhealth.com/news/vald-injury-prediction-statement): Musculoskeletal injuries typically result from complex, non-linear interactions between multiple factors (Bittencourt et al. 2016). Some factors are non-modifiable, such as age, sex, ethnicity, and training history while others, including strength, muscle-tendon morphology, and diet can be modified. Identifying risk factors for injury represents the first step towards designing evidence-based injury prevention programs.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Hamstring adaptations in semi-pro Australian football athletes (Timmins et al., 2021)](https://valdhealth.com/news/research-summary-hamstring-adaptations-in-semi-pro-australian-football-athletes-timmins-et-al-2021): Following the intervention, both the FLY group and the NHE group saw a similar increase in hamstring fascicle length. Additionally, both groups saw an increase in their eccentric hamstring strength, with the NHE group seeing slightly bigger adaptations. Furthermore, the NHE group also saw an increase in their 40 m sprint performance.
- [Five years of Hamstring Injury Research in 25 minutes](https://valdhealth.com/news/five-years-of-hamstring-injury-research-in-25-minutes): Five years of hamstring injury research in 25 minutes: lessons learned from the QUT and ACU Hamstring Injury Groups.
- [Short biceps femoris fascicles and eccentric knee flexor weakness increase the risk of hamstring injury in elite football (soccer): A prospective cohort study](https://valdhealth.com/news/short-biceps-femoris-fascicles-and-eccentric-knee-flexor-weakness-increase-the-risk-of-hamstring-injury-in-elite-football-soccer-a-prospective-cohort-study): Another piece of research gold from the research team, showing the link between biceps femoris fascicle length, eccentric strength/weakness and injury risk – powerful stuff.  This paper formed the thesis of Ryan Timmins, backed by NordBord inventors Dr. David Opar and Dr. Tony Shield.