Top Sites>Technology for human performance | VALD Performance

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> VALD Performance specializes in advanced technology for measuring and monitoring physical performance in various sports and organizations, providing tools for profiling, rehabilitation, and athlete management to improve overall performance outcomes.

- [Produits | Outils qui vous aident à mesurer ce qui compte](https://valdperformance.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.
- [ForceDecks | Plateformes de force portables, puissantes et faciles à utiliser](https://valdperformance.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.
- [VALD Hub | Toutes vos données de performance physique en un seul endroit](https://valdperformance.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.
- [DynaMo | Dynamomètres portables intuitifs et polyvalents](https://valdperformance.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.
- [NordBord | L'étalon-or du test des ischio-jambiers](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Organisations - Technologie pour toute définition de la performance](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.
- [Productos | Herramientas que le ayudan a medir lo que importa](https://valdperformance.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.
- [ForceDecks | Plataformas de fuerza portátiles, potentes y fáciles de usar](https://valdperformance.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.
- [VALD Hub | Todos sus datos de rendimiento físico en un solo lugar](https://valdperformance.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.
- [DynaMo | Dinamómetros manuales intuitivos y versátiles](https://valdperformance.com/es/products/dynamo): Empuje, tracción, agarre y ROM. Cientos de pruebas desde la palma de su mano con nuestros dinamómetros portátiles.
- [NordBord | La prueba de referencia en isquiotibiales](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Organizaciones | Tecnología para cualquier definición de rendimiento](https://valdperformance.com/es/organizations): La tecnología VALD está diseñada para el rendimiento humano, sea cual sea su forma.
- [Rendimiento deportivo | Tecnología para rendir en el campo](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Sports Performance | Technology for performance on the field](https://valdperformance.com/sports): Court, field, water, track and motor sports. VALD technology helps measure, monitor and improve performance for every sport.
- [Organizations | Technology for any definition of performance ](https://valdperformance.com/organizations): VALD technology is designed for human performance, no matter what shape or form that takes.
- [Products | Tools that help you measure what matters](https://valdperformance.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.
- [VALD Hub | All your physical performance data in one place](https://valdperformance.com/products/valdhub): Included with all VALD products at no additional cost, VALD Hub sits at the 
heart of VALD’s systems.
- [DynaMo | Intuitive and versatile handheld dynamometers](https://valdperformance.com/products/dynamo): Push, pull, grip and ROM. Hundreds of tests from the palm of your hand with our handheld dynamometers.
- [ForceDecks | Portable, powerful and easy-to-use force plates](https://valdperformance.com/products/forcedecks): Assess jumps, strength, asymmetry and more. Detect and assess over 20 different movements automatically with our force plates.
- [NordBord | The gold standard in hamstring testing](https://valdperformance.com/products/nordbord): The fastest, easiest and most proven system for testing hamstring strength in the field or in the clinic.
- [Applications | Performance solutions, centralized](https://valdperformance.com/applications): Reporting for individual athletes, groups and teams, normative data and much more - all in one centralized platform.
- [Technology for human performance | VALD Performance](https://valdperformance.com): VALD technology is used and trusted in high performance organizations around the world to measure, manage and improve teams and athletes.
- [Tecnología para el rendimiento humano | VALD Performance](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Technologie pour la performance humaine | VALD Performance](https://valdperformance.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.
- [MoveHealth | Exercise programming, objective testing results, research-backed questionnaires and education, for free.](https://valdperformance.com/products/movehealth): Exercise program builder for practitioners and guided exercise for clients, for free.
- [MoveHealth | Programación de ejercicios, resultados de pruebas objetivas, cuestionarios respaldados por la investigación y educación, de forma gratuita.](https://valdperformance.com/es/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://valdperformance.com/fr/products/movehealth): Programme d'exercices pour les praticiens et exercices guidés pour les clients, gratuitement.
- [HumanTrak | Movement analysis system](https://valdperformance.com/products/humantrak): 3D motion capture and biomechanical analysis in a portable, plug-and-play system.
- [HumanTrak | Système d'analyse du mouvement](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.com/es/products/humantrak): Captura de movimiento 3D y análisis biomecánico en un sistema portátil plug-and-play.
- [ForceFrame | Fast and adaptable strength training and testing ](https://valdperformance.com/products/forceframe): Repeatable and intuitive strength training and testing for every major joint in the body.
- [ForceFrame | Entrenamiento y pruebas de fuerza rápidos y adaptables](https://valdperformance.com/es/products/forceframe): Entrenamiento de fuerza y pruebas repetibles e intuitivas para todas las articulaciones principales del cuerpo.
- [ForceFrame | Entraînement et tests de force rapides et adaptables](https://valdperformance.com/fr/products/forceframe): Entraînement et test de force répétables et intuitifs pour toutes les principales articulations du corps.
- [SmartSpeed | Portes de synchronisation de nouvelle génération](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.com/products/smartspeed): Easy-to-use timing gate system for measuring speed, agility and reactivity, jumps and more.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdperformance.com/contact): Get in touch.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdperformance.com/fr/contact): Prenez contact avec nous.
- [VALD Performance | Contacta](https://valdperformance.com/es/contact): Póngase en contacta.
- [VALD Performance | Contacta](https://valdperformance.com/es/contact): Póngase en contacta.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdperformance.com/contact): Get in touch.
- [VALD Performance | Contact](https://valdperformance.com/fr/contact): Prenez contact avec nous.
- [VALD Performance | Política de Cookies](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.
- [Aplicaciones | Soluciones de rendimiento, centralizadas](https://valdperformance.com/es/applications): Informes para atletas individuales, grupos y equipos, datos normativos y mucho más, todo en una plataforma centralizada.
- [Integrations | Integrations at no additional cost](https://valdperformance.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.
- [VALD Performance - Politique en matière de cookies](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Intégrations | Intégrations sans frais supplémentaires](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Applications | Solutions de performance, centralisées](https://valdperformance.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.
- [VALD Performance | Cookie Policy](https://valdperformance.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 | News & Case Studies](https://valdperformance.com/news): Explore the latest in human performance technology, research, and product updates from VALD. Stay informed with case studies, expert insights, and innovations.
- [Maturity and Nordic Strength in Youth Female Soccer](https://valdperformance.com/news/maturity-and-nordic-strength-in-youth-female-soccer): How age, body mass, height and biological maturity influence eccentric knee flexion strength during the NHE in female international youth soccer athletes.
- [Defining Reactive Strength](https://valdperformance.com/news/defining-reactive-strength): Dr. Lachlan James explains what reactive strength is, how it is assessed using drop jumps and RSI and why it requires specific assessment and training.
- [Force Plates 101: What are force plates and why are they used?](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Not All Norms Are Created Equal](https://valdperformance.com/news/not-all-norms-are-created-equal): Learn what normative data is, how VALD Norms differ from other normative datasets and why dataset quality matters for accurate interpretation.
- [Profiling the HYROX Athlete: What actually matters](https://valdperformance.com/news/profiling-the-hyrox-athlete-what-actually-matters): Dr. Chris Bramah explains why sustained running is the primary determinant of HYROX performance and how force-based testing guides targeted interventions.
- [Isometric Belt Squat: A practical alternative for lower-body strength testing](https://valdperformance.com/news/isometric-belt-squat-a-practical-alternative-for-lower-body-strength-testing): In this article, Dr. Morgan Williams and Peter Ashcroft introduce the isometric belt squat as a practical alternative for assessing maximal lower-body strength.

- [Buyer’s Guide to Timing Gates](https://valdperformance.com/news/buyers-guide-to-timing-gates): This buyer’s guide to timing gates outlines key considerations when selecting systems for speed, agility and RTP testing across health and performance settings.
- [Sampling Frequency: How much is enough?](https://valdperformance.com/news/sampling-frequency-how-much-is-enough): This article unpacks the science behind sampling frequency and explains its impact on data quality based on research-based insights.
- [My Dashboard: Alex Natera](https://valdperformance.com/news/my-dashboard-alex-natera): Alex Natera shares a VALD Hub dashboard outlining key tests, metrics and training interventions to help practitioners better integrate testing data into practice.
- [Strength, Power and Landing Control Predict Fire-and-Movement Performance](https://valdperformance.com/news/strength-power-and-landing-control-predict-fire-and-movement-performance): Investigates which physical qualities distinguish high and low performers on a fire‑and‑movement assessment using strength, power, landing and mobility tests.
- [Tendon Rehabilitation: Why Force, Isometrics and Plyometric Capacity Matter](https://valdperformance.com/news/tendon-rehabilitation-why-force-isometrics-and-plyometric-capacity-matter): Dr. Alex Natera explains how isometric loading, force measurement and drop-jump profiling help bridge the gap between tendon rehabilitation and performance preparation.
- [Fatigue, Travel and Performance Monitoring in Baseball](https://valdperformance.com/news/fatigue-travel-and-performance-monitoring-in-baseball): In this article, Prof. Hugh Fullagar outlines key demands, assessment methods and thresholds practitioners can use to manage athlete fatigue more effectively. 
- [The VALD Pricing Model: Our commitment to innovation](https://valdperformance.com/news/vald-pricing-model): This article outlines the VALD pricing model and explains why it provides the most effective and scalable pathway for delivering value across the MSK industry.
- [Isometrics: Static contractions, dynamic applications](https://valdperformance.com/news/isometrics-static-contractions-dynamic-applications): Though not a new concept, isometric training has become more refined and effective with modern technologies. Practitioners now use isometric training as an evidence-based, measurable and highly effective tool for assessing and developing strength.
- [Technology-Driven Readiness with Mississippi State Highway Patrol](https://valdperformance.com/news/technology-driven-readiness-with-mississippi-state-highway-patrol): To help cadets complete MHP’s demanding 18-week program, David Saucier and his team are developing a new approach to preparation and injury risk management.
- [Knee-Flexion Angle Alters Hamstring Muscle Strength](https://valdperformance.com/news/knee-flexion-angle-alters-hamstring-muscle-strength): This study examined how knee-flexion angle influences force output and muscle activation during isometric hamstring testing.
- [Understanding Horizontal Jump Analysis in HumanTrak](https://valdperformance.com/news/understanding-horizontal-jump-analysis-in-humantrak): This article explains how HumanTrak assesses and analyzes horizontal jumping capacity using CoM tracking to objectively assess broad jump performance.
- [Le modèle tarifaire VALD: Notre engagement envers l'innovation](https://valdperformance.com/fr/news/vald-pricing-model-1qhaydw0vy2fsxm59b3v0w): Cet article aidera à expliquer comment fonctionne le modèle de tarification VALD et pourquoi nous pensons que c'est le meilleur moyen possible pour nous d'apporter de la valeur aux professionnels de la santé et de la performance ainsi qu'à l'industrie musculo-squelettique (MSK) dans son ensemble.
- [Beyond the Numbers with Strength-IQ](https://valdperformance.com/news/beyond-the-numbers-with-strength-iq): Nathan Spencer shares how objective testing, strategic cueing and better test selection help practitioners extract meaningful insight from performance data.
- [El modelo de precios VALD: Nuestro compromiso con la innovación](https://valdperformance.com/es/news/vald-pricing-model-3j3c6nbh59rpjlspckuhlr): A menudo recibimos preguntas sobre cómo es el modelo de fijación de precios de VALD, qué incluye, cómo está estructurado y qué significa para nuestros clientes. En este artículo se describe el modelo y se explica por qué constituye la vía más eficaz y escalable para generar valor en el sector musculoesquelético (MSK).
- [From Innovation to Paralympic Success](https://valdperformance.com/news/from-innovation-to-paralympic-success): Samuel shares how he uses tech in areas where traditional testing approaches often require adaptation, providing a unique view on athlete testing and monitoring.
- [Understanding Metric Overlap: A practical guide for practitioners](https://valdperformance.com/news/understanding-metric-overlap-a-practical-guide-for-practitioners): Dylan explains how metric overlap and clustering emerge, how to identify them and what strategies can help ensure the data delivers meaningful insights.
- [ForceDecks Validity and Reliability](https://valdperformance.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.
- [From Data to Decision: Structuring clarity in high-performance sport](https://valdperformance.com/news/from-data-to-decision-structuring-clarity-in-high-performance-sport): Dr. Jarred explores how first principles thinking and other decision-making models integrate into the OODA loop and how they transform data into decisions.
- [Quadrant of Boom Part 3: Hip adductor and hamstring strength](https://valdperformance.com/news/quadrant-of-boom-part-3-hip-adductor-and-hamstring-strength): This final article in the Quadrant of Boom series examines the relationship between eccentric hamstring strength and isometric hip adductor strength.
- [Introducing the Yielding Phase and New Metrics in ForceDecks](https://valdperformance.com/news/introducing-the-yielding-phase-and-new-metrics-in-forcedecks): In this blog, we outline the latest ForceDecks iOS update, which introduces the yielding eccentric sub-phase and other new eccentric CMJ metrics.
- [Assessing Hamstring Injury Risk in Baseball](https://valdperformance.com/news/assessing-hamstring-injury-risk-in-baseball): This study evaluated whether preseason hamstring strength and interlimb asymmetry, measured via SLIBT vs. NHE, were associated with HSI in pro baseball players.
- [Neck Coupling Strength in MMA: Testing what matters](https://valdperformance.com/news/neck-coupling-strength-in-mma-testing-what-matters): In this article, Gavin shares how the UFC Performance Institute uses neck coupling strength testing to support performance, protection and athlete profiling.
- [Explosive Strength: Understanding, assessing and applying early force metrics](https://valdperformance.com/news/explosive-strength-understanding-assessing-and-applying-early-force-metrics): Lachlan explains what explosive strength is, how to assess it, how to address common challenges and how to apply early force metrics and training interventions.
- [Creative Speed Development with BX4 Fitness](https://valdperformance.com/news/creative-speed-development-with-bx4-fitness): In this case study, we explore how Joseph Lampkin integrates SmartSpeed Plus to enhance youth speed and agility training through creative, engaging sessions.
- [ASH Test Insights on Early RFD and Peak Force in Baseball](https://valdperformance.com/news/ash-test-insights-on-early-rfd-and-peak-force-in-baseball): Ashworth et al. (2025) compared peak force and early RFD at three shoulder abduction angles in the Athletic Shoulder (ASH) test in elite baseball players.
- [Introducing valdr: Direct, flexible access to your VALD data](https://valdperformance.com/news/introducing-valdr): valdr allows users to analyze their own data without relying solely on third-party AMS providers or any additional systems. Built with ease of use and autonomy in mind, this package allows for data analysis on a more granular level.
- [Navigating a New Role in Sport Performance](https://valdperformance.com/news/navigating-a-new-role-in-sport-performance): In this blog, Sean Baker shares his insights on navigating a new role in sport performance, from context and objective data to addressing performance problems.
- [Drop Jump Performance Differences: Post-ACLR vs. healthy soccer players](https://valdperformance.com/news/drop-jump-performance-differences-post-aclr-vs-healthy-soccer-players): Cabarkapa et al. (2025) tested if a bilateral 30cm drop jump could distinguish neuromuscular performance and asymmetries in post-ACLR vs. healthy soccer players.
- [Why I Chose VALD: From budget-friendly beginnings to best-in-class performance](https://valdperformance.com/news/why-i-chose-vald-from-budget-friendly-beginnings-to-best-in-class-performance): Martin Nugent reflects on his transition from budget tools to a fully integrated testing system – and the role VALD now plays in his facility’s growth.
- [Testing Curvilinear Sprints and Decelerations with SmartSpeed Timing Gates](https://valdperformance.com/news/testing-curvilinear-sprints-and-decelerations-with-smartspeed-timing-gates): This blog explains why deceleration matters, breaks down the most practical testing options and shows how SmartSpeed timing gates capture data that truly counts.
- [Implementing NordBord Training Mode for Hamstring Rehabilitation](https://valdperformance.com/news/implementing-nordbord-training-mode-for-hamstring-rehabilitation): This case study outlines how Performance Coach and Urban Zone Founder Antheos Spiteri integrates NordBord’s Training Mode into his rehabilitation process.
- [Quadrant of Boom Part 2: Sprint momentum and hamstring strength](https://valdperformance.com/news/quadrant-of-boom-part-2-sprint-momentum-and-hamstring-strength): Building on our Quadrant of Boom article, this piece explores how acceleration over 10m and sprint momentum contribute to performance and injury risk in team sports.
- [IMTP vs. Iso Squat](https://valdperformance.com/news/imtp-vs-iso-squat): IMTP and Iso Squat provide distinct but complementary views of compound isometric strength. This article outlines their roles, important differences and how results guide training. 

- [Youth Development in Ice Hockey](https://valdperformance.com/news/youth-development-in-ice-hockey): This article explores the physiological and neurological changes youth athletes face and how tools like ForceDecks and SmartSpeed can optimize their development.
- [Athlete Testing Combine Best Practice Checklist](https://valdperformance.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. 
- [Introducing VALD Norms](https://valdperformance.com/news/introducing-vald-norms): Norms: integrated normative data is now available in VALD Hub for ForceDecks, DynaMo (strength tests), NordBord, ForceFrame and HumanTrak. We have also put Norms right where you perform your testing, with in-app Norms available directly in each app.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: Hamstring adaptations in semi-pro Australian football athletes (Timmins et al., 2021)](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Leicester City: The science behind their Premier League title](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Short biceps femoris fascicles and eccentric knee flexor weakness increase the risk of hamstring injury in elite football (soccer): A prospective cohort study](https://valdperformance.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.
- [Five years of Hamstring Injury Research in 25 minutes](https://valdperformance.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.
- [A Framework for Choosing the Right Tests and Measures](https://valdperformance.com/news/a-framework-for-choosing-the-right-tests-and-measures): Lachlan proposes a structured framework to help sport scientists and coaches select tests that support competition performance and improve decision-making.
- [Bridging the Gap: Using data to identify optimal loading for power development](https://valdperformance.com/news/bridging-the-gap-using-data-to-identify-optimal-loading-for-power-development): Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Point Loma Nazarene University, Antonio Squillante, outlines how resistance training intensity dictates adaptation, using dual-system testing and objective measurement to explore optimal loading for power development. The piece includes support from sport science graduate Carson O’Coyne.
- [RESEARCH SUMMARY: The role of neuromuscular inhibition in hamstring strain injury recurrence (Fyfe et al., 2013)](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.
- [Case Study: DHL Stormers](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.
- [HAMSTRING RESEARCH REVIEW](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.
- [NordBord Testing: New applications for training, monitoring and evaluation](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.
- [AFLW Normative Data: Nordic, Hip Adduction and CMJ Results](https://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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://valdperformance.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.