Game-Changing Tech: How We’re Using VALD to Level Up Patient Care and Sports Performance in Durham

We’re always looking for ways to elevate the care we deliver—and this summer, we’re bringing some serious tech muscle to our evaluations. We’re excited to announce that The Obstacle Doc now offers VALD ForceDecks and the VALD Dynamo Plus system as part of our physical therapy and sports performance assessments.

So what does that mean for you, your athlete, or your post-op recovery? It means we’re taking out the guesswork and dialing in precision with tools trusted by professional sports teams, elite rehab clinics, and high-performance coaches around the world.

What is VALD—and why are we so pumped about it?

VALD Performance creates data-driven systems that give objective insights into how your body is moving, loading, and producing force. These systems aren’t just for the pros (though they’re used by plenty of them)—we’re using them here in Durham to give our patients and athletes the same level of insight and care.

Here’s what we’re bringing in:

✅ ForceDecks: Dual Force Plates

These measure everything from jump height and landing strategy to asymmetries in how your legs produce and absorb force. Whether you're recovering from ACL surgery or trying to PR your vertical jump, ForceDecks help us measure exactly where you are—and guide your next steps.

✅ Dynamo Plus: Handheld Strength & Range of Motion Testing

Think of this as a supercharged manual muscle test. It tells us exactly how much force your muscles are generating, how your joints are moving, and where any weaknesses or limitations are showing up. No more “it feels weak”—we can now see it, measure it, and track progress over time.

What this means for our patients

This tech enhances how we evaluate and treat everything from post-op knees to chronic low back pain to runners with recurring injuries.

With VALD, we can:

• Objectively track progress week to week
• Set baselines and return-to-play criteria
• Detect imbalances before they become injuries
• Customize your strength and mobility programming with precision

This isn’t tech for the sake of flash—it’s about leveling up the way we help you move, perform, and recover.

A game-changer for Durham student-athletes

If you're a parent of a high school athlete, or you're working toward a college or pro career yourself, you know how important it is to stay healthy and perform at your best. Our VALD systems give you a full performance screen—whether you’re in the off-season, mid-season, or returning from injury.

We’re using this technology to:

• Support safe return to sport
• Benchmark performance metrics for strength, jump power, and limb symmetry
• Inform conditioning and injury-prevention strategies
• Prep for combines, tryouts, and showcases with objective data in-hand

We’re especially excited to integrate these systems during our summer and fall training programs and workshops across Durham and the Triangle.

Local, data-driven physical therapy in Durham, NC

We’re proud to be the go-to clinic for athletes, runners, postpartum moms, and weekend warriors across Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP, and beyond. With the addition of VALD ForceDecks and Dynamo Plus, we’re doubling down on our mission to provide evidence-based, high-performance physical therapy that meets you where you are—and helps you get where you want to go.

Whether you’re dealing with an injury or leveling up your performance, we’ve got the tools—and the team—to help you move better and live better.

Want to be one of the first to try it?
Schedule a performance screen or physical therapy evaluation here.

Let’s get to work. 🔥