Peak Performance Podiatry

08/04/2026

Hosted with our Sports & Exercise Podiatrist Pat here is Sole Science Episode 4 features dual Olympian & Sports Podiatrist, Matt Clarke.

A rare inside look at what happens when elite performance meets clinical decision-making.

Key takeaways:
• The athlete–clinician dual perspective
• The real impact of “super shoes” on biomechanics
• Why the Achilles is the engine of running
• Injury, empathy, and treating athletes under pressure
• When to break the rules in high-performance care

In Episode 4 of , we sit down with a guest who truly lives life in the fast lane: dual and , Matt Clarke. 🏃‍♂️💨

Matt brings a rare "dual-lens" perspective to the podiatry world, balancing his career as an elite 3,000m steeplechaser with a high-level clinical practice. In this episode, we explore how being one of the world's best athletes informs his work in the clinic.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ The Parallel Path: How Matt’s journey into elite running and podiatry started simultaneously and how he manages the demands of both worlds.

👟 Super Shoes & Steeple Spikes: Matt’s expert take on the evolution of foam technology and the biomechanical shift from traditional leather spikes to modern "super" footwear.

🛡️ The Resilience Factor: Why a "springy" Achilles is the engine of a distance runner and the neuromuscular economy required to hurdle at high speeds.

🩹 The "Terrible Patient" Advantage: How Matt’s own battles with hamstring and Achilles injuries taught him the empathy needed to treat athletes on a deadline.

🛠️ Creative Clinical Solutions: Why working with elite athletes often means "throwing out the rule book" to find functional, risk-based solutions.

Listen now on your favorite platform: 🎧 https://rss.com/podcasts/sole-science/

A huge thank you to Matt for sharing his insights into the intersection of elite sport and clinical excellence.

24/02/2026

Clinic Update | Bringing World-Class Learning Back to Canberra

As Canberra’s premier Sports & Exercise Podiatry clinic, ongoing professional development is central to how we deliver the highest level of care.

Over the weekend, Pat attended the 2026 Vald Performance Practitioner’s Summit: Lower Limb Return-to-Play, joining leading sports medicine clinicians, physiotherapists, and performance specialists from across Australia.

Notably, Pat was the only Sports & Exercise Podiatrist from Canberra in attendance, reinforcing our clear commitment to advancing knowledge within our specialised field and bringing the latest evidence directly back to our local sporting community.

Here are some standout clinical insights from the summit 👇

🏃‍♂️ Lachlan Wilmot — Load, Velocity & Smart Rehab Planning

Modern rehabilitation isn’t just about strength it’s about producing meaningful force quickly.

✅ Loaded velocity training develops the ability to apply force fast
✅ The force–velocity spectrum spans maximum force and maximum velocity, but a key focus for load tolerance is impulse
✅ Rehab programming is like managing a budget
the real clinical skill is the game of omission, not adding more exercises

Better rehab comes from precision, not complexity.

🧠 Selwyn Griffith (Melbourne Football Club) — What Rehabilitation Really Means

A simple but powerful concept:

👉 Rehabilitation is training in the presence of injury.

Key principles:

Progress based on criteria, not timelines

Capacity determines progression not weeks post-injury

Rehab should mirror performance preparation

🦵 Ebonie Rio — Tendon Rehabilitation

One of the most important reminders:

❌ Tendons rarely improve with complete rest
✅ The priority is reducing provocative loads, not removing load altogether

Appropriate loading drives tendon adaptation and long-term resilience.

✔ Evidence-based rehabilitation
✔ Individualised return-to-play decisions
✔ Modern load management strategies

We’re proud to continue investing in specialised education so Canberra athletes and active individuals receive world-class Sports & Exercise Podiatry care locally.

19/02/2026

Heritage Footwear + Orthotics — A Better Urban Footwear Option

At Peak Performance Podiatry, we’re often asked:

“What shoes actually work with orthotics for work, travel or smart-casual wear but also looks good?”

Recently we’ve been testing a range of heritage footwear options that perform exceptionally well for patients needing support without sacrificing style.

These shoes share important characteristics we look for clinically:
✅ Adequate width
✅ Proper internal depth
✅ Stable construction
✅ Durable materials designed for long-term wear

Heritage footwear options that work well with orthoses:

Danner Mountain Light (GORE-TEX)
Stitchdown construction creates a wider and more stable platform underfoot. Excellent option for structured orthotics and long days on your feet.

Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc
A broad forefoot design with generous volume. Goodyear welt construction allows resoling and long-term use, ideal for patients wanting longevity.

Birkenstock Bend Low
A smart-casual sneaker with removable footbed and wide toe box, allowing accommodation of custom orthoses while maintaining everyday comfort.

Blundstone Dress Series
Slim aesthetic but surprisingly good internal depth. Lightweight, shock-absorbing and very orthotic-friendly for office or travel wear.

Diemme Roccia Vet
Premium leather urban hiking boot with excellent internal volume and stability for orthotic integration.

Good footwear is part of treatment not just an accessory.

Many modern dress shoes are too narrow or shallow for proper biomechanical support. Well-constructed heritage footwear provides the structure needed for orthoses to function effectively.

We recently paired these models with custom 3D-printed orthotics fabricated by Footwork Podiatric Laboratory, allowing patients to transition seamlessly between work, travel and daily activity.

If you’re unsure whether your shoes are helping or worsening your foot pain, we’re happy to assess your footwear as part of your consultation.

📍 Peak Performance Podiatry — Canberra
Helping you move better, every day.

27/01/2026

The wait is over! Episode 1 of Sole Science is LIVE. ✨

In our very first episode, our hosts Patrick Doan and Harriet Thurlow had the pleasure of interviewing credentialled Sports Podiatrist, John Osborne.

Key Topics Covered:

🔍 Defining the Specialty: John discusses the name change to "Sports and Exercise Podiatry" and what this broader scope means for both the profession and patients.

🚀 The Path to Certification: A look at the value of peer-reviewed recognition and the responsibility that comes with being a leader in the field.

⚙️ Rethinking Rehabilitation: An exploration of traditional exercise models and why it’s important to match rehabilitation to the physical demands of daily activities.

🛠️ The Clinical Toolkit: A balanced discussion on using technology for objective measurements versus the essential role of patient education and communication.

👣 Practical Strategies for Heel Pain: John outlines his primary clinical approach, including the importance of footwear, education, and empowering patients with clear management strategies.

More details on how to listen: 🎧https://rss.com/podcasts/sole-science/

Big thanks to John for being our very first guest and for being so generous with his time and expertise! 💜

24/01/2026

Our Podiatrist Patrick has been hard at work with a project over the last 12 months!

Great to see this content for the Sports & Exercise Podiatrists in Australia.

08/01/2026

We’re back open for 2026! 👟🇯🇵

Over the Christmas and New Year break, Patrick spent the time sharpening his skills as a Sports Podiatrist, investing in learning, biomechanics, and performance-focused footwear with ASICS

Part of this journey included a visit to the ASICS Institute of Sport Science in Kobe, Japan. A huge thank you to Masaru and the team for the warm welcome and for providing an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the multi-sport functional research department.

The visit offered rare insight into:

materials processing and footwear design

shoe prototypes and iterative testing

applied biomechanics

advanced 3D foot modelling used in final-stage shoe development

It was also a genuine honour to meet Toshikazu Kayano, the renowned designer behind the iconic Gel-Kayano, first released in 1993.

A powerful reminder that great science, great design, and great feet can take you a long way.
We’re back, refreshed, and ready to apply world-class thinking to your care in 2026.

23/11/2025

13/11/2025

🚀 ASICS Are In the Building Today!

Big day at Peak Performance Podiatry we’re hosting ASICS for an exclusive CPD session diving into everything new and technical for 2026.

We’ll be breaking down:
👟 Advanced foam innovations
🦾 Midsole + outsole engineering updates
🏃‍♂️ Running footwear tech (foams, plates and performance)
⚽️ Football boot developments
🏐 Netball-specific stability upgrades
👢 Work boot durability + use case in the field

Always levelling up so our patients get the best, most evidence-driven footwear recommendations in Canberra.

06/11/2025

🌟 Welcome to the Team – Trish Cowan! 🌟

We’re thrilled to welcome Trish Cowan to the Peak Performance Podiatry team! 👣

Trish brings a dynamic blend of clinical expertise and strength & conditioning knowledge to our clinics, with over six years of experience across sports podiatry, rehabilitation, and performance programming.

🎓 Qualifications:
• Masters of Strength & Conditioning – University of Canberra (2025)
• Bachelor of Health Science / Masters of Podiatric Medicine – Western Sydney University (2019)
• ASCA Professional L1 S&C Coach

Her key interests include foot and ankle rehabilitation, load management, orthotic design, and natural movement retraining — combining the art of podiatry with the science of performance.

A former surf boat rower with North Cronulla SLSC and rugby player with Southern Districts Rugby, Trish now channels that same passion for movement and performance into helping others move better, recover stronger, and perform at their best.

💥 You can now book in with Trish at our Canberra City Clinic on Thursdays & Fridays

03/11/2025

🏃‍♂️ SMA 2025 Conference – Hobart 🇦🇺 | Thank you ASICS & Sports Medicine Australia

A huge thank you to ASICS Australia for supporting the Sports Medicine Australia Conference in Hobart, and to SEPA for curating an outstanding lineup of podiatry and biomechanics sessions. Always a privilege to learn, connect and collaborate with some of the best minds in sport and exercise science. Patrick was in Hobart last week for some professional learnings.

💡 Conference Highlights:
👟 Prof Nick Brown (QUT) – Refshauge Lecture: “An intersection of sports podiatry with musculoskeletal and sports biomechanics research.” A brilliant reflection on the evolution of our understanding of foot function, from rigid models of the past to the dynamic, adaptable systems we now recognise in human movement.

👟 SEPA Symposium – “Treating the Trailblazer” – A deep dive into the biomechanics, load management and footwear demands of trail running, featuring Madeleine Murray, Michael Nitschke, Matthew Clarke, and Thomas Do Canto. Fantastic discussion bridging clinical application and real-world experience from some of Australia’s top clinician-athletes.

👟 Dr Enda King (Aspetar, Qatar) – Keynote on ACL Rehabilitation: Redefining return-to-play decision-making through objective biomechanical profiling, symmetry restoration and performance-based readiness.

👟 Dr Michelle Smith (UQ) – Ankle Arthritis: What We Know and Don’t Know. A powerful reminder of the need for more research into post-traumatic ankle OA and early-stage interventions for active populations.

👟 RED-S Symposium (Tasmanian Institute of Sport) – Practical strategies for prevention and early intervention through multidisciplinary collaboration – a model of true athlete-centred care.

👟 ASICS Presentation – Biomechanics-Informed Design of Working Footwear
Great to see innovation extending beyond performance sport to occupational settings, showing how biomechanics continues to shape product design for all forms of movement.

A big congratulations to Sports Medicine Australia, ASICS, SEPA, and all presenters for an inspiring few days of science, sport and collaboration.

We’re looking forward to integrating these learnings across Peak Performance Podiatry Canberra — from injury rehabilitation and orthotic design to athlete load management and footwear optimisation.

13/10/2025

🏃‍♂️ We’re back in the clinic this week as marathon and running season hits full stride in the middle of spring!

Our Sports & Exercise Podiatrist Pat took on the Nike Melbourne Marathon Half (21.1 km) over the weekend — race-testing the new ASICS Sonicblast through its paces.
The verdict? A worthy successor to the Magic Speed 4 — lightweight, firm, and stable with a race-ready feel that lived up to expectations. The fit is generous even with orthotics. Foam is soft but resilient to still feel compliant after 21km. A great shoe that is not too high in stack like other shoes currently in the market.

Whether you’re training for your next event or just getting back into running this spring, now’s the perfect time for a gait and running footwear assessment to keep you moving at your best. 🌿👟

📍 Peak Performance Podiatry — helping you move better, run stronger, and perform longer.

07/10/2025

🏃‍♂️ Marathon Season is Here – and So Are the Shoes We’re Testing 🏔️

We’re deep into marathon and trail season — which means plenty of kilometres on the road and on the trails. Over the past few weeks we’ve been putting some of the latest performance shoes through their paces to see how they stack up for both endurance and recovery:

ASICS Megablast – maximum rebound and long-run comfort - soft foam with new ATPU compound.
ASICS Sonicblast – lightweight option with surprising stability and firmness (our faviourite)
Brooks Running Hyperion Max 3 – snappy, but stable bouncy feel for long tempo sessions
Nike Vomero Premium – plush daily trainer with serious mileage legs, 55mm stack!
ASICS Fuji Trabuco MT – rugged grip and underfoot protection for the mountain miles -- speed hiking specialist.

Each shoe brings a different feel, geometry, and midsole character — and we’re testing them across tempo runs, long runs, and hiking trails to see where they truly shine (and where they don’t).

Thinking about your next race or trail adventure?
Book in for a gait analysis or footwear consultation — we’ll match your training needs, biomechanics, and running goals to the right setup for your feet. Book online or email us to get started!