Integrating VALD's Training Mode with ForceFrame and NordBord Technology
- Jo Clubb
- Apr 9
- 5 min read
In this post, I delve into VALD's new Training Mode feature, and how it can be applied with NordBord and ForceFrame to integrate athlete testing with training.
When we think about technology such as the NordBord or the ForceFrame, our minds usually envisage standalone athlete testing. However, with VALD’s new 'Training Mode' feature, there's an essential shift in paradigm towards integrating objectivity within the training process. In this post, I'll explore how training mode can be used with both the ForceFrame and NordBord to help make testing a seamless part of training.
Training mode facilitates setting target zones based on user inputs, which can be tailored to the individual athlete's needs. This approach allows practitioners to prescribe submaximal exercises with clear objective markers, track performance in real-time, and review progress longitudinally. See it in action in the video below.
ForceFrame Training Mode
The ForceFrame is a fixed dynamometer capable of testing isometric strength across various joints and muscle groups in diverse positions. This technology, previously explored in videos addressing hip and groin, shoulder, and calf strength, now incorporates training mode to enhance its capabilities.
In the new video (below) on the Global Performance Insights YouTube channel (below), I discuss a couple of case studies that demonstrate how training mode can be applied with the ForceFrame.
For example, one case of a Premier League footballer's shoulder rehabilitation (first shared in our free VALD Practitioner's Guide to Shoulders) showcases training mode's potential in post-operative recovery (~3:00-4:20). When isometric targets are prescribed, such as 25-40% of the individual's maximum force of shoulder external rotation (ER) in a neutral position, this can be easily measured and limited during rehab.
Another example discussed in the video above, is taken from this article for VALD Performance by physical therapist Matt Witt in which he shares his insights into using ForceFrame training mode with baseball athletes.
This application is demonstrated in the conservative rehabilitation of a baseball player with a tendon tear, where training mode tracks progress from low percentage isometrics to high-intensity targets, as per the figure below. In the video, we discuss the different phases and associated isometric strength targets that were used with training mode.
NordBord Training Mode
Training mode is also now available with the NordBord. By setting target zones and adjusting them according to live performance, training mode ensures a targeted force output, encouraging effective force distribution between limbs and monitoring asymmetry. As shown in the clip below, the NordBord eccentric training mode combines left-to-right asymmetry on the x axis and force output on the y axis thereby, providing two dimensions for targets.
As you can see in my earlier demonstration of training mode, we also have the ability to create bespoke hamstring training programmes directly on VALD's app (~7:00).
Combining Eccentric and Isometric Objectivity with NordBord
Whilst the NordBord takes it take from the most infamous of all the hamstring exercises (the Nordic Hamstring Exercise), we also have the ability to use it for other exercises. As I've previously discussed, (video right) the Nordic elicits an eccentric muscle action, while the prone hamstring test (ISO prone) assesses isometric strength.
Complementing training mode's real-time application, Dr. Morgan Williams discussed a useful workflow that integrates different hamstring testing outcomes to inform training prescriptions. Combining ISO prone and Nordic hamstring outputs can help to ensure athletes are executing the Nordic hamstring exercise at a suitable level of eccentric stimulus for adaptation.
Given the sigmoid-shaped force-velocity relationship, we expect an individual's to be stronger in an eccentric muscle action than an isometric one. Therefore, it follows that an individual should achieve greater force output on the NordBord in a Nordic exercise compared to an isometric prone exercise.
As discussed further in the video, Dr Williams analysed over 9,500 assessments in the VALD data lake and proposed in this article the following applications:
Individualised Eccentric Training Thresholds: By utilising isometric (ISO-Prone) peak force measurements, practitioners can establish personalised target thresholds for Nordic hamstring exercises. This ensures athletes receive adequate eccentric training stimuli, optimising muscle adaptation and reducing injury risk.
Objective Criteria for Adding External Load: Comparing peak forces from Nordic and ISO-Prone tests provides an objective basis for determining when to incorporate external loads into Nordic hamstring exercises. This approach ensures training intensity aligns with the athlete's current strength levels, promoting effective progression.
There are actually a number of reasons that a Nordic test may not exceed the same individual's ISO-Prone force, such as:
the Nordic test was performed poorly,
the Nordic test was too easy, requiring additional load or
the athlete or patient has underpinning issues causing weakness that need attention (e.g., neural inhibition or delayed onset of muscle damage).
So by combining these data streams, we have a red-flag system for the quality of a Nordic performed in real-time. This data-informed approach prevents under-stimulation and guides practitioners in refining training stimuli effectively. These applications highlight the evolving role of training mode in enhancing training methodologies, monitoring athlete development, and refining evaluation processes.
Ultimately, VALD's training mode feature facilitates a more objective and continuous assessment of athletes' performance, potentially enhancing both their rehabilitation and training routines without the need for standalone testing.
FAQs
Q: What are the key benefits of using VALD's training mode?
A: VALD's training mode facilitates setting target zones based on user inputs, which can be tailored to the individual athlete's needs. This approach allows practitioners to prescribe submaximal exercises with clear objective markers, track performance in real-time, and review progress longitudinally.
Q: How does training mode enhance rehabilitation?
A: Training mode allows practitioners to set precise targets during athlete rehabilitation, ensuring exercises align with specific recovery stages and aims. It enables setting targets based on pre-injury baselines and tracking progress in real-time, enabling practitioners to adapt to the athlete's status in a particular session.
Q: Can training mode be utilised with healthy athletes?
A: Yes, it suits both rehabilitation and everyday training. For healthy athletes, it ensures exercise intensity stays within desired ranges, which may be particularly useful during pre-training activation or isometric strength work.
Q: What are the key benefits of using training mode with NordBord?
A: NordBord training mode provides a dual approach—isometric training mode for exercises such as the prone iso hold and eccentric training mode for the Nordic hamstring exercise and razor exercise. Information from these two tests can be integrated to guide the target zone for Nordics based on isometric hamstring capacity. The real-time feedback mechanism makes it an invaluable tool for maintaining symmetry and desired intensity.
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This article is support by VALD Performance. For more information, about their technology, visit their website.