At Daisy Hill Physio we use VALD ForceDecks and DynaMo — the same objective strength-measurement technology trusted by elite sports teams, tier-one rehabilitation clinics and academic researchers — to give every patient measurable data on their strength, asymmetries, and recovery trajectory.
What VALD assessment means for you
“You’re getting better” is a feeling. VALD measurement is a number. We use VALD technology to put objective data behind every clinical decision: how strong you actually are on each side, where your weak links sit, whether your rehabilitation is on track, and when it is genuinely safe to return to sport, work, or daily activity.
You leave your assessment with a printed or digital report showing exactly how your strength compares to your baseline, your unaffected side, and population norms for your age and activity level. So does your referring GP, if you have one.
The technology we use
VALD ForceDecks
ForceDecks are dual force plates that measure ground-reaction forces during jumping, landing, balance, squat, single-leg and bilateral tasks. They capture peak force, rate of force development, asymmetry between left and right, jump height, contact time and landing mechanics — variables that movement screens and visual inspection simply cannot detect.
It is the same equipment used by AFL clubs, NRL clubs, Olympic federations, and elite return-to-play programs internationally. Daisy Hill Physio is one of a small number of community physiotherapy clinics in Logan equipped with it.
VALD DynaMo
The DynaMo is a hand-held wireless dynamometer used for joint-specific testing and more nuanced muscle group isolation. Where ForceDecks measure lower-limb force, asymmetry and movement mechanics through jumping, landing and squatting tasks, the DynaMo measures rotator cuff, scapular stabilisers, hip rotators and other small but critical structures involved in injury prevention and rehabilitation.
How a VALD assessment works at Daisy Hill Physio
A typical VALD assessment runs inside a standard 30-minute physiotherapy consultation for an isolated test, or inside an extended 45-minute consultation if you have booked the full VALD battery.
- Clinical interview. We talk through your history, your goals, and what you want answered. A return-to-running assessment looks different to a post-prostatectomy strength baseline.
- Movement screen. Brief physical examination — joint range, muscle length, gross movement quality — so the strength data we collect has the right context.
- VALD testing. A structured battery of force-plate and hand-held strength tests using ForceDecks and DynaMo, with each test repeated to ensure data reliability. You will perform jumps, squats and isolated muscle tests and the device records the rest.
- Interpretation and plan. We walk you through the data on the screen — what each number means, where the asymmetries sit, what is normal for someone of your age and activity level, and what the priorities are.
- Written report. You leave with a clear summary of your numbers, the comparison to norms and your unaffected side, our interpretation, and the recommended treatment plan. We send the same report to your referring GP.
Who benefits from VALD assessment
Anyone who wants their physiotherapy decisions based on data rather than guesswork. In practice, the patients who get the most out of it include:
- Post-surgical rehabilitation — ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, hip or knee replacement. Baseline at week one, retest at key milestones, return-to-sport criteria backed by numbers rather than calendar.
- Return-to-sport athletes — high-school, club, semi-pro. Quantitative strength criteria are the international standard for return-to-play decisions in ACL rehab and shoulder injuries.
- Older adults — strength baseline + retest at three months tracks whether your gym program or rehabilitation is actually building strength or just feeling like work. Critical for falls prevention.
- NDIS and DVA participants — objective outcome data attached to your plan, demonstrable progress for reviews, and a clear record for your support coordinator and treating GP.
- Chronic pain and persistent dysfunction — where the diagnosis is unclear, asymmetry data and force-curve shapes often surface the underlying mechanical story.
- Workers’ compensation rehabilitation — objective return-to-work criteria for physically demanding jobs.
What you get back
Every VALD assessment at Daisy Hill Physio includes:
- A 30-minute physiotherapy consultation for focused single-test work, or a 45-minute extended consultation for the full VALD battery — combining clinical interview, movement screen and structured strength testing
- A printed and digital report covering all tested variables — peak force, asymmetry index, force-time curves, comparison to your unaffected side and to population norms
- Our written interpretation and recommended next steps
- A clear treatment plan with measurable retest targets
- A copy of the report sent to your GP, if you have one
- Your assessment data stored securely so we can chart progress at every retest
How VALD integrates with your treatment
The assessment is the starting point, not the destination. Once we have your baseline, we build the rest of your treatment around it.
If the report shows a 35 percent strength deficit on your operated knee compared to your unaffected side, we prescribe a strength block targeted at closing that gap, with retest dates booked in advance. If the report shows your rotator cuff external rotators are weaker than your internal rotators (a classic shoulder-impingement profile), the rehab program addresses exactly that imbalance, and we retest every four weeks through the training block to confirm we are moving the needle.
This is the difference between physiotherapy that hopes you are improving and physiotherapy that proves you are improving.
Booking your VALD assessment
All physiotherapy consultations at Daisy Hill Physio are 30 minutes by default, which is enough time for a focused VALD test on a single joint or muscle group as part of your normal session (for example, an isolated quadriceps strength test after a knee injury, or a rotator-cuff DynaMo screen for shoulder pain).
If you want the full VALD battery — bilateral lower-limb force plate testing, jump and landing analysis, plus the relevant DynaMo upper-limb or hip work — we recommend booking an extended 45-minute consultation so we have time to capture clean data and walk you through the report properly. Tell reception when booking that you would like a “full VALD assessment” and we will allocate the 45-minute slot.
Retesting cadence
Strength changes show up on VALD before they show up in how you feel. We recommend retesting every 4 weeks through a training block — that is the cadence at which meaningful changes in peak force, asymmetry and rate-of-force development become visible. For most rehabilitation episodes this means a baseline test, a 4-week retest, an 8-week retest and a 12-week final test before return-to-activity criteria are signed off.
For longer programs (post-ACL, post-major-surgery, ongoing performance work), the 4-week cadence continues for as long as the training block runs. Retests can be booked as either a 30-minute focused single-test review or an extended 45-minute full-battery retest, depending on what your physiotherapist recommends.
Sharing data with your GP
We send a one-page summary to your referring GP after the initial assessment, and again at any retest. The report includes the same information you receive: the numbers, the interpretation, and our recommended plan. If you do not yet have a referral and would like one for Medicare or private-health rebate eligibility, we can liaise with your GP directly.
This habit matters: your doctor sees how physiotherapy is contributing to your broader care, your data attaches to your medical record, and any future treating clinician anywhere in Australia has a starting point.
Cost and rebate eligibility
A VALD assessment is delivered as part of an initial physiotherapy consultation and falls under standard physiotherapy pricing at Daisy Hill Physio. That means it is eligible for the rebates you would normally receive on a physiotherapy assessment — including private health (most extras policies), Medicare via an EPC referral from your GP, DVA Gold or White card, NDIS plan-managed or self-managed funding, and WorkCover. Call us on 07 3209 2000 if you would like the exact gap fee for your specific cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is VALD testing painful?
No. The tests are isometric — you exert maximal effort against a fixed brace for two to three seconds at a time. There is no movement at the joint and no risk of strain. It is the same effort as pushing as hard as you can against a wall.
I am recovering from surgery. Is it too early to be tested?
Often it is the perfect time. Early-stage post-surgical testing establishes a baseline you can measure recovery against. We will only ask you to test what is medically safe at your stage of recovery — the protocol is tailored to where you are.
How does this compare to a standard physio strength test?
A standard manual muscle test relies on the physiotherapist’s hands and clinical eye. It is grade-based (out of five) and good for screening, but cannot detect asymmetries below about 15 percent, and cannot quantify rate of force development at all. VALD captures both, with reliability that meets the standard for sports-science research.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book a VALD assessment directly. However, if you would like to claim Medicare or DVA rebates, a referral from your GP or treating doctor is required.
Can I be tested if I do not have a current injury?
Yes. Pre-season strength screening, post-pregnancy return to running, age-related falls-prevention baselines, and tracking strength gains from a gym program are all reasons to test without an active injury.
How often should I retest?
Typically every six to twelve weeks during an active rehabilitation block, then every three to six months once you are in maintenance. Your treating physio will recommend timing based on your specific goals.
Book your VALD assessment
Daisy Hill Physiotherapy is at Unit 4, 11-13 Allamanda Drive, Daisy Hill QLD 4127. We are a five-minute drive from Springwood, ten minutes from Slacks Creek, and serve patients from across Logan City, Brisbane south, and the Redlands. Free parking on site. Same-week appointments available.
Book online via our online booking system, or call us on 07 3209 2000 to talk through whether a VALD assessment is right for your situation.
