In sports and rehabilitation, precision matters. Harrison is bridging the gap between elite athletic performance and everyday wellness by using advanced technology. Our latest innovative implementation is a system once exclusive to major league sports teams and star athletes. We see it as a tool that can benefit anyone, regardless of their health goals or fitness level.
This system is not just for injury or pain but can also be used for pre- and re-hab purposes. Those without injury can use this technology to optimize their performance and achieve their fitness goals. Additionally, the real-time feedback provided by the system allows clinicians to track client progress and make adjustments to their exercise routine.
Precision-Driven Physical Performance
Renowned among major league sports teams, the VALD system is quickly being integrated into clinical settings such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and athletic therapy. It’s truly a breakthrough in personalization, precision medicine, and movement.
Its benefits include improved tracking through ongoing use and real-time feedback, allowing clients to view their video recordings moments after completing an activity. It can gather over 100 different data points depending on the test, offering a comprehensive analysis compared to traditional tests like the “Sit to Stand,” which simply counts repetitions against normative data. It analyzes joint angles, center of mass positioning relative to the limbs, and degrees of flexion and extension during movement. Joint-by-joint strength testing is performed, which provides isometric testing to determine force production by individual muscles around a joint. Using the lightweight, portable force plates make it easy to assess strength, movement, range of motion, asymmetry and balance, allowing for more informed exercise prescription.
At Harrison, we frequently use the system to help optimize a client’s performance on a given measurement, thereby enhancing their ability to achieve their goals. By providing more objective data on strengths and weaknesses, Exercise Physiologists can better tailor exercise prescriptions.
For our clients there is no additional cost to use this assessment technology. This is simply another resource available to our clinical team.
These sophisticated assessments have proven highly effective for individuals ranging from post-injury to those seeking performance optimization. By providing objective data, clients can visualize their progress through exercise and receive even more precise exercise recommendations than ever before.
Recovery, Functional Strength & Surgery Preparation
In Canada, there can be significant wait times for orthopedic surgeries like knee, hip, shoulder or ankle procedures. During this period of uncertainty, managing pain, improving mobility, and preparing for a faster recovery become crucial challenges. This is where cutting-edge technology to measure, monitor, and manage physical performance can offer significant support.
Consider the case of a 56-year-old client with a torn ACL, meniscus injury, and lateral compartment osteoarthritis. Frustrated by knee pain and swelling during regular exercise and facing an 18-month wait for surgery, he underwent precise testing, specific to his needs. This included a movement screen, joint-by-joint strength testing, and evaluation of compound movement force production.
The results were transformative. Our client transitioned from experiencing chronic swelling and pain during exercise to minimal swelling and no pain, enabling him to engage in activities like jumping, squatting, running, and biking as he did pre-injury.
To accomplish this, we developed a structured and progressive strength training regimen for him, consisting of 4-5 sessions per week, complemented by aerobic cycling exercises. The program primarily targeted quad and hip strengthening, with plyometrics (jumping) incorporated later on. We introduced isometric exercises early in the routine, leveraging recent data that supports their effectiveness in enhancing soft tissue strength. Subsequently, we increased the intensity, as tendons and ligaments respond better to intensity rather than an increase in repetitions (volume). As time went on, we were able to raise the volume to boost muscle mass in preparation for surgery.
His quad strength improved dramatically from the 50th to the 100th percentile, with asymmetries reduced from 20% to less than 6%. His movement screen revealed enhanced symmetry, now within normal limits for knee and hip flexion and extension. Furthermore, he experienced a 5% increase in jump height and a 12% boost in force production and speed through jumping.
Most importantly, this client regained confidence in his physical capabilities, embracing the benefits of consistent strength training. Regular follow-ups every three months further track his progress, ensuring sustained improvement and preparation for eventual surgery.
For those awaiting orthopedic surgery, utilizing technology to measure, monitor, and manage physical performance offers a proactive approach. By staying fit and addressing weaknesses and asymmetries, clients not only improve their quality of life during the wait for surgery but also set the stage for a quicker recovery post-operatively.
As the saying goes, “The fitter you go in, the fitter you come out.”
Critical Advantage for Club Team
In club volleyball, height often seems like a crucial advantage, especially for young athletes eager to make their mark. This is where the precise measurements of the VALD system prove invaluable.
We worked with a 14-year-old client aspiring to join her club volleyball team. She was concerned about her height, as she stood at about 5’1”, while some of her teammates were nearly 6 feet tall. To compete at the net and secure her spot on the team, she needed to improve her vertical jump.
We utilized force plates to assess her take-off and landing forces, flight time, contraction durations, and jump height. This equipment offers a level of precision that surpasses traditional tools used for measuring jump height.
Her initial test showed a vertical leap of 23.7 cm (9 inches) during the counter-movement jump (CMJ), which placed her in the 42nd percentile.
Further jump testing, including a squat assessment and squat jump, demonstrated that she was strong and could generate force without relying on momentum. The focus, therefore, was on enhancing her ability to produce more force and jump higher with an approach or momentum.
We provided her with a structured jumping protocol to follow over two months. At the tryouts, her vertical jump improved to 12.5 inches, which helped her make the team. She is now competing in the starting setter position as her team embarks on their travel schedule.
Recurrent Injuries to High Performance
We evaluated a 27-year-old male baseball player with a history of recurrent hamstring injuries. His most recent injury occurred while sprinting to second base. During testing, we observed that his bilateral force production was impressive. However, a notable asymmetry appeared during the single-leg jump (CMJ) and single-leg isometric glute bridge tests, with his previously injured leg generating less force.
We prescribed a six-week training regimen targeting unilateral glute and hamstring strength, followed by six weeks of single-leg jumping and bounding exercises. Now, he is preparing for sport-specific activities with progressively longer sprints. He reports improved strength, sprinting, and jumping, with no pain or limitations.
Personalized, Precise & Innovative
These three cases illustrate the importance of personalized and precise physical training regimens tailored to individual needs and conditions. By leveraging advanced testing technologies and structured programs, clients from different backgrounds, goals, or challenges can achieve remarkable improvements in physical performance and confidence.
