Unlocking Potential: How VALD Testing Guides Smarter Training for Runners

At Up N Adam Performance Training & Physiotherapy, we work with athletes of all ages and backgrounds — from weekend warriors to ultra-distance runners taking on 100km mountain races. One of the most powerful tools we use in the clinic is VALD testing. With technology like ForceDecks, NordBord, and handheld dynamometers, we can measure strength, power, balance, and control with remarkable accuracy.

But more importantly, testing gives us something every athlete needs: clarity.

Two Case Studies: Same Sport, Different Stories

Recently we assessed two inspiring athletes:

1. A 62-year-old ultra runner looking to build strength for better performance and injury prevention.

2. A 65-year-old ultra runner who, after bilateral hip replacements, is still competing in 100km trail races.

On paper, both are remarkable — decades of training, endless determination, and an ability to push their bodies further than most people dream of. But their VALD results told two very different stories.

The 62-Year-Old Runner

• Strength: Calves were strong and symmetrical, but his left quadriceps and hamstrings (eccentric) showed noticeable deficits.

• Power: Jump testing highlighted low reactive strength and a large right-leg landing weakness.

Takeaway: Without testing, he may never have realised that one leg was absorbing force far less effectively — a clear risk factor for injury on steep trail descents.

The 65-Year-Old Runner

• Strength: Shoulders, quads, and calves looked solid, but his left hip was under-performing across multiple movements.

• Hamstrings: While balanced left to right, his NordBord score placed him only at the 56th percentile for his age. For most, that would be fine — but for someone running 100km ultras, “average” is not enough.

• Power: A huge asymmetry in landing rate of force development showed his right leg was much slower at absorbing impact than the left.

Why This Matters

Neither of these runners came in injured. They were still training, still racing, and still performing at a high level. Yet the testing revealed hidden weaknesses that could:

1. Limit their performance (stride efficiency, propulsion, power).

2. Increase injury risk (imbalances, overload, downhill control).

3. Shorten their athletic lifespan if left unaddressed.

And that’s the real value of testing — it takes the guesswork out of training. Instead of assuming what an athlete needs, we can see exactly where they’re strong, where they’re vulnerable, and where to focus the next 8 weeks of training.

From Data to Direction

At Up N Adam, testing is never the end point. It’s the starting point.

• The 62-year-old now has a plan targeting left quad and hamstring eccentric strength, plus plyometric drills to build his reactive power.

• The 65-year-old is focusing on hip stability, hamstring strength beyond “average,” and evening out his landing mechanics.

Both athletes have highly individualised programs designed from their results — programs that would look completely different if we hadn’t tested first.

The Power of Retesting

Testing once is valuable. Testing again is transformative.

By re-testing in 6–8 weeks, we can see:

1. If the program is actually closing the gaps.

2. Whether imbalances are improving.

3. When it’s time to progress, shift focus, or maintain.

This cycle of test → train → retest ensures training stays dynamic, targeted, and evidence-based. It’s how we turn data into long-term progress.

Final Word

The two ultra runners above prove a powerful point: you can be tough, resilient, and determined — but you can’t out-train blind spots.

VALD testing shines a light on what you can’t see. It reveals the details that make all the difference in performance and injury prevention. And when paired with the expertise of physiotherapists and performance trainers, it creates a training plan that’s not just hard — but smart.

Whether you’re training for your first trail race or your tenth 100-miler, testing helps you run longer, safer, and stronger.

Book Online Now to book your VALD Testing: www.upnadamptphysio.com

This is APA Sports Physiotherapist, Darren Glendenning, signing off for now!

You can book an appointment with Darren or Newcastle Knights Physiotherapists Katie or Hayd'n at www.upnadamptphysio.com to test your strength & power and to start guiding you on your journey.

Bookings also available on our website for the following services at Up N Adam Performance Training & Physiotherapy:

• Dietitian - Sweat testing, weight-loss or to optimise your training nutrition / fuelling www.nutrientnation.com.au

• VO2 Max testing - to discover more effective ways to train efficiently www.flowitri.com.au

• Strength & Conditioning Programs - contact us or book via the website or email us at upnadamptphysio@gmail.com

• Remedial Massage - to relieve accumulative muscle tension & keep you training well.

• CycleFit by Physiotherapist Dean Waterman - At Up N Adam, for all your bike fitting solutions www.cyclefitphysio.com

Physiotherapist Hayd'n Baragry taking Lucas (our VO2 Tester) through his paces in front of some of his Flowitri Triathlon athletes