Physiotherapy · Track
How We Measure Recovery Objectively: The VALD Testing Suite in Milton Keynes
Written by Nick Allen and Simon Jones
Lead Physiotherapists, Co-Directors Hanbury Health, Milton Keynes
Published:
"It feels a bit better" is not a plan. Most rehab runs on subjective judgement, how something feels, how it looks to the eye, and that leaves too much to guesswork, especially when the stakes are returning to sport or heavy activity without getting hurt again. We do it differently. At Hanbury Health we measure strength, power and movement objectively, using the same VALD technology that professional sports teams and research labs rely on. This is the heart of how we track your progress within physiotherapy, with numbers, not hunches.
Why objective measurement matters
You can't manage what you don't measure. The problem with judging recovery by feel is that the body is very good at hiding deficits, you compensate, favour one side, and "feel fine" while a muscle is still 20% weaker than the other leg. That hidden asymmetry is exactly what leads to re-injury when you go back to full activity.
Objective testing removes the guesswork. It tells us precisely how strong you are, how much power you produce, whether your left and right sides are balanced, and how well you move, as numbers we can compare against your other side, against normative data, and against your own results over time. It turns "I think you're ready" into "here's the evidence you're ready," and it turns a vague rehab plan into a targeted one.
The VALD testing suite
We use four complementary VALD systems, each measuring something different. Together they build a complete, objective picture of how you produce force and move.
Dual force plates
ForceDecks
You stand, jump, land or balance on two precision force plates that measure the force each leg produces, hundreds of times per second. This reveals lower-limb power, jump and landing mechanics, rate of force development, balance, and, critically, any left/right asymmetry. The gold-standard way to assess explosive strength and readiness for jumping and landing sports.
Strength testing frame
ForceFrame
A fixed frame that measures your isometric strength precisely across different muscle groups, hips, hamstrings, quadriceps, shoulders and more, and quantifies imbalances between sides. It's how we objectively confirm whether a muscle group has actually regained its strength, rather than assuming it has.
Handheld dynamometer
DynaMo
A portable device that measures strength and range of motion almost anywhere on the body, quickly and reliably. It lets us objectively test joints and muscles that the fixed systems don't cover, and capture range-of-motion data as part of the picture.
Markerless motion capture
HumanTrak 3D
A camera-based system that captures how you actually move in three dimensions, joint angles, range of motion and movement quality during squats, reaches and functional movements, without any markers or suits. It shows us how you move, not just how strong you are.
How we use it in your care
The tools are only as good as what we do with the data. Here's how objective testing runs through your care:
- Baseline. We test at the start to establish exactly where you are, strength, power, symmetry, movement, and to uncover deficits that aren't visible by eye.
- Target. We set clear, measurable goals (for example, restoring left/right strength symmetry to within a safe margin) and design your rehab to hit them.
- Re-test and track. We re-measure at intervals so you, and we, can see real progress, and so we can adjust the programme based on what the numbers show.
- Criteria-based decisions. For return to sport or return to heavy activity, we base the decision on objective criteria being met, not just on how you feel, which is how you come back safely and stay back.
What objective testing changes
The difference this makes is practical. It catches the asymmetries that cause re-injury before you go back to sport. It stops rehab ending too early because something "feels fine" when it isn't yet ready, and equally stops it dragging on when you're actually good to progress. It makes your rehab specific to your deficits rather than generic. And it gives you something motivating and honest to work towards, your own numbers improving, session on session. It also holds us accountable: we can show you the evidence that what we're doing is working.
What the evidence says
Objective testing isn't a gimmick, it reflects where sports medicine has moved. Research consistently shows that strength and jump-based limb-symmetry measures matter for safe return to sport: objective criteria commonly look for around 90% symmetry between limbs, and athletes who fall short show poorer force-plate performance and higher re-injury risk. Studies also show that returning to sport without meeting stringent objective criteria is associated with unacceptably high rates of second injury.
The honest nuance, and the reason this is done by physiotherapists, not just a machine, is that no single number tells the whole story. The data has to be interpreted in context, alongside clinical judgement and your goals. That's exactly how we use it: elite measurement, read by experienced clinicians, to make better decisions than either could alone.
Who it's for
Objective testing benefits anyone who wants their rehab or training to be measurable rather than guessed:
- After surgery or serious injury, especially ACL reconstruction and other knee, hip or shoulder procedures, where hidden weakness and asymmetry are common.
- Returning to sport, to make the go/no-go decision on data, not hope.
- Persistent or recurring injuries, to find the strength or movement deficit that keeps letting you down.
- Performance and injury prevention, screening to find and fix weak links before they become injuries.
- Anyone doing serious rehab, including as a way to guide and prove the value of tools like blood flow restriction training.
Elite-level testing, in Milton Keynes
The VALD systems are used by professional sports teams, national federations, universities and research labs around the world. Having the full suite, ForceDecks, ForceFrame, DynaMo and HumanTrak 3D, under one roof at our Milton Keynes clinic means you get that same standard of objective measurement applied to your recovery, whether you're an athlete chasing return to sport or someone who simply wants their rehab done properly and provably.
What to expect
A testing session is straightforward and not strenuous beyond the specific efforts we ask for. We'll explain each test, guide you through it, standing or jumping on the force plates, pushing against the frame, a few strength and range-of-motion measures, and moving in front of the motion-capture camera, and it's all captured automatically. Afterwards we go through your results with you in plain English: what they mean, where the gaps are, and what the plan is. We then re-test at sensible intervals so you can see your progress in black and white.
Frequently asked questions
What is objective testing in physiotherapy?
Objective testing measures your strength, power, movement and left/right symmetry with precise equipment, rather than judging recovery by feel or eye. At Hanbury Health we use the VALD suite, ForceDecks, ForceFrame, DynaMo and HumanTrak 3D, to gather that data.
What do the VALD systems measure?
ForceDecks (force plates) measure force, power, jump and landing mechanics and left/right asymmetry; ForceFrame measures isometric strength and imbalances across muscle groups; DynaMo is a handheld device measuring strength and range of motion; HumanTrak 3D captures how you move in three dimensions.
Why does objective measurement matter for recovery?
The body hides deficits, you can 'feel fine' while a limb is still significantly weaker, and that hidden asymmetry is a common cause of re-injury. Measuring it lets us target rehab precisely, track real progress, and make safe, criteria-based return-to-sport decisions.
Do I need to be an athlete?
No. Objective testing helps anyone recovering from surgery or injury, returning to activity, or wanting rehab that's guided by data rather than guesswork. It's just as useful for everyday recovery as for sport.
How does testing guide my rehab?
We test at baseline to find your deficits, set measurable targets, design your programme around them, and re-test to track progress and decide when you're genuinely ready to progress or return, based on evidence, not just how you feel.
Where can I get objective strength and movement testing in Milton Keynes?
Objective testing with the full VALD suite is available within physiotherapy at Hanbury Health, Milton Keynes. Book an assessment through our website.
Book an assessment in Milton Keynes
If you want your recovery measured and guided by data, not guesswork, book an assessment with our team at Hanbury Health. We'll test you objectively, explain exactly what the numbers mean, and build a rehab plan around them.
Medical disclaimer: Objective testing is used here within physiotherapy to inform assessment and treatment, carried out and interpreted by a physiotherapist alongside clinical judgement. Test results are one part of your care, individual circumstances vary, and this is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician about your circumstances.
Written by Nick Allen and Simon Jones, Physiotherapists at Hanbury Health, Milton Keynes.