Why Your Therapy Isn’t Working: The Problem with Subjective Assessments

Many athletes go through physical therapy and feel like they’re stuck in a cycle of pain, rehab, and re-injury. But why? The truth is, most traditional physical therapy clinics rely on subjective assessments that lack measurable data.

Hi, I’m Dr. Jonny!

If you’re new here, I’m a sports performance physical therapist who helps athletes use their muscles better and get back to playing at their peak. If that sounds like you, hit follow 👉https://www.instagram.com/athelitetherapy

Why Traditional PT Falls Short

Your progress is often judged based on:
✅ What your therapist sees
✅ What you report feeling
✅ Manual muscle testing (a therapist pushing against your arm and “grading” your strength based on their perception)

The problem? These methods are unreliable.

🚨 Manual muscle testing isn’t objective – Strength is graded by how it “feels” to a therapist, which varies from person to person. There’s no consistency or real data to track improvement.

🚨 Pain tolerance can be misleading – Just because you feel better doesn’t mean your shoulder (or any other joint) is ready for high-level demand.

🚨 Visual assessments don’t catch everything – Small strength imbalances and movement deficits can go unnoticed, putting you at risk for re-injury.

The Better Way: Objective Data Over Guesswork

At AthElite, we don’t guess—we assess.

Using the VALD Dynamo, we take the guesswork out of your rehab by measuring your shoulder (or other muscle groups) with hard data. This means:

✅ Faster and safer return to play – Real-time testing shows exactly where you are in your recovery.
✅ Lower risk of re-injury – We pinpoint and correct underlying imbalances before they cause further issues.
✅ More effective rehab & return-to-sport plans – No more generic protocols—your training is customized to your body’s specific needs.

It’s Time to Stop Guessing & Start Optimizing

If your shoulder has been holding you back, let’s fix it the right way—with objective, measurable data that ensures you’re truly ready to return to sport.

Ready to take the next step? Let’s talk!