Feeling better is important, but symptoms alone do not show how much force an athlete can produce, how each side contributes or how performance changes during a demanding task.

An athlete may look confident in a basic exercise while still using a strategy that hides a deficit. What is VALD testing? VALD develops measurement systems used in rehabilitation and sports performance. Depending on the system and test selected, clinicians can assess qualities such as isometric strength, force production, jump performance, balance, asymmetry and rate of force development. The value is not the technology on its own.

The value comes from choosing the right test, collecting repeatable data and interpreting the result in the context of the athlete, the injury and the demands of the sport.

Why visual assessment is not enough

An experienced practitioner can learn a great deal by watching an athlete squat, jump, land or change direction. However, the eye cannot reliably quantify every force difference or show exactly how much progress has occurred between sessions.

Objective strength testing adds numbers to the clinical picture. It may show that one side is producing less force, that both sides are below an appropriate level, or that an athlete has regained output but still uses a different movement strategy. These details can change the priorities of the next training block. How VALD testing supports rehabilitation It establishes a clear starting point Early testing, when appropriate, creates a baseline. This helps us identify the size and type of deficit rather than relying only on the athlete’s perception or general exercise performance. It helps target the programme If testing shows a specific weakness or force-production deficit, the programme can be adjusted to address it. Exercise selection, load, contraction type and progression can be linked more closely to what the athlete needs. It tracks whether rehab is working Repeated testing can show how strength and performance change over time. That makes progress easier to communicate and helps determine whether the programme should continue, progress or be modified. It informs return-to-sport decisions Return-to-sport testing can identify whether important deficits remain before unrestricted training. It gives the athlete and rehabilitation team measurable information to consider alongside symptoms, clinical findings, training exposure and sport-specific performance.

Why side-to-side symmetry is only one part of the story A common goal is to reduce the difference between limbs, but symmetry is not the same as readiness. If the uninjured side has also lost strength during time away from sport, two equally underprepared limbs can appear symmetrical. Results should therefore be compared with more than one reference where possible. This may include previous baseline data, repeated tests, relevant normative information and the physical demands of the athlete’s sport.

VALD’s own guidance also emphasises that asymmetry needs context rather than being interpreted as a percentage in isolation. One test should not clear an athlete No single jump, force score or symmetry result can capture everything required for safe and effective sport participation. Return to sport also depends on tissue healing, symptoms, range of motion, confidence, conditioning, technical skill and exposure to training intensity.

For this reason, VALD testing is used as part of a test battery. The results contribute to the decision; they do not replace clinical judgement, medical guidance or field-based assessment. Testing should match the athlete’s sport A distance runner, footballer and court-sport athlete do not need identical testing. The selected measures should reflect the qualities that matter for the injury and the return goal. Isometric strength may be important in one case, while jump, landing or repeated-effort measures may add more value in another. The same principle applies to timing. Testing should take place when the athlete can perform the task safely and when the result will influence a decision.

More data is not automatically better; useful data answers a clear rehabilitation question. Turn data into a practical plan At Burke Biokinetics, we use objective testing to make rehabilitation more measurable and individual. We explain what the results mean, connect them to the training plan and retest when the information can guide the next step. The aim is not a report full of numbers. It is a clearer path from injury back to performance.