MH Sports Podiatry

07/05/2026

MH Sports Podiatry Sports Performance Testing combines sports science with clinical expertise to provide a comprehensive assessment of how your body moves, produces force and tolerates load during sport. Using advanced technology including VALD strength testing, 3D movement analysis and Footscan pressure analysis, we objectively assess strength, power, rate of force development, movement control, asymmetry and biomechanical efficiency to identify both performance-limiting factors and potential injury risks. By integrating this data with expert clinical reasoning, we can determine not only where deficits exist, but how they influence movement, performance and tissue loading within your sport. This allows us to deliver highly individualised training, rehabilitation and performance strategies designed to improve efficiency, resilience, athletic performance and long-term injury reduction for runners, footballers, athletes and active individuals.

07/05/2026

At MH Sports Podiatry, our 3D Gait Analysis and Performance Testing service provides a detailed, data-informed assessment of how you move, load and perform during running. Using advanced 3D motion analysis, Footscan pressure analysis and VALD strength testing, we objectively assess running mechanics, force production, movement efficiency, asymmetries and tissue loading patterns to identify factors contributing to pain, injury risk or reduced performance. By combining biomechanical analysis with strength and capacity profiling, we can determine not only how you move, but why you move that way. This allows us to deliver highly individualised rehabilitation, footwear advice, orthotic intervention and performance strategies designed to improve running efficiency, optimise load tolerance, reduce injury risk and help runners perform at their best.

05/05/2026

This review supports a multifactorial, athlete-specific model of injury risk. Female athletes should not be viewed as simply “more injury prone”; rather, they may be exposed to a different interaction of biology, biomechanics, footwear design, sport demands, training history and healthcare under-representation. From a clinical perspective, assessment should include strength testing, balance/proprioception, landing and cutting mechanics, foot morphology, footwear/boot fit, plantar pressure, gait analysis, training load and RED-S screening where relevant. The main limitation is that the literature remains inconsistent, with many studies failing to analyse or report sex-specific findings, so conclusions should guide clinical reasoning rather than be treated as absolute rules.

Talia AJ, Busuttil NA, Kendal AR, Brown R.
Gender differences in foot and ankle sporting injuries: A systematic literature review. The Foot. 2024;60:102122.

05/05/2026

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether menstrual-cycle phase influences foot and ankle structure, tissue stiffness, balance, proprioception and neuromuscular control. The review included 15 studies and 359 participants, with most studies comparing the follicular and ovulatory phases, and fewer including menstrual or luteal phases. Overall, the paper suggests that the ovulatory phase may represent a period of increased biomechanical vulnerability in the foot and ankle, but the strength of evidence remains limited by small samples, heterogeneous methods and inconsistent menstrual-cycle verification.

The main finding is that around ovulation there may be increased ligamentous and fascial laxity, associated with increased foot length, reduced plantar fascia thickness, reduced arch height index and greater arch deformation under load. Clinically, this matters because the plantar fascia, spring ligament complex, intrinsic foot muscles and ankle stabilisers all contribute to maintaining arch stiffness and creating a rigid lever for propulsion. If passive stiffness reduces during ovulation, the foot may become more compliant, with greater pronation/arch collapse and potentially reduced efficiency of the windlass mechanism. The authors link this to possible increased risk of plantar fasciopathy, medial arch overload and chronic ankle instability, although this should be interpreted as a plausible mechanism rather than definitive causal evidence.

Regife-Fernández, L., Radcliffe, C.R., & Castro-Méndez, A. (2026).
Menstrual cycle effects on foot and ankle musculoskeletal biomechanics: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Gait & Posture, 127, 110164.

07/04/2026

29/03/2026

New Bristol clinic. Blue Sky Physiotherapy, Cocoa House.

🏃‍♂️ Running Injuries
⚽️ Sport & MSK injuries of foot, ankle & lower leg
👣 3D Gait Analysis
👟 Running footwear assessment & advice
🦶 Custom foot orthoses

Blue Sky Physiotherapy, Cocoa House, 129 Cumberland Road Bristol BS1 6UX

Email. info@mhsportspodiatry.com
Contact. 07535924049

22/02/2026

Large individual variability was observed in both populations when using AFT compared with a traditional racing flat.

- World-class Kenyan runners showed responses ranging from a ~11.4% improvement to an ~11.3% worsening in running economy.
- Amateur European runners showed a narrower range, from a ~9.7% improvement to a ~1.1% worsening.

Despite similar mean trends, not all athletes benefited, and some performed worse in AFT despite its theoretically advantageous design.

Meta-analysis confirmed an overall statistically significant, moderate improvement in running economy with AFT compared to traditional racing flats (standardised effect size ≈ −0.58).

Speed-dependent effects were evident:
- Small effects at very low speeds
- Moderate effects at low–moderate speeds
- Large effects at high speeds, suggesting AFT mechanisms are more effective under higher mechanical and metabolic demands.

Importantly, the meta-analysis reinforced the presence of substantial individual variability, even when pooled effects were favourable.

The findings strongly challenge the assumption that AFT provides a uniform performance advantage, particularly in elite runners.

World-class Kenyan athletes, already highly economical may have less scope for improvement, or may respond differently due to anthropometrics, biomechanics, neuromuscular strategies, or prior shoe adaptation.

The results support a personalised approach to footwear selection, rather than blanket recommendations, especially for elite and highly trained athletes.

From a clinical and applied biomechanics perspective, the study highlights the importance of individual testing, familiarisation, and integration with gait mechanics, load tolerance, and performance goals.

Variability in Running Economy of Kenyan World-Class and European Amateur Male Runners with Advanced Footwear Running Technology: Experimental and Meta-analysis Results

Melanie Knopp et al. Sports Med. 2023

07/02/2026

A bit of fun….Chat GPT’s caricature of me and my profession (Podiatrist) based on what they know of me!! 😂😂

Well this is me.

A Podiatrist for nearly 10years, specialising in sport and musculoskeletal injuries, gait analysis, strength and performance testing, running footwear advice and custom foot orthoses.

A background in sport and exercise science with an MSc in clinical biomechanics and current PhD candidate looking into running footwear and a specific area around advanced footwear technology.

A runner for over 30yrs having competed in track, cross country and on the roads.

02/02/2026

NEWS ALERT!!

From Monday 9th February MH Sports Podiatry will be providing Sport & Musculoskeletal Podiatry services at Keith James Physiotherapy Clinic.

MH Sports Podiatry delivers expert biomechanical assessment and management of foot, ankle and lower-limb conditions for active individuals and athletes of all levels.

Whether managing heel pain, Achilles tendon symptoms, stress-related injuries, forefoot pain or long-standing mechanical issues, our priority is to identify the true contributors to symptoms, not simply treat the site of pain.

👟 Advice and recommendations around footwear
🦶 Prescription of custom and semi custom insoles
🏋️‍♀️ Exercise rehabilitation or referral to physiotherapy
👣 Routine podiatry treatments for nail care, callus and corn removal

Appointments Monday Mornings 9am - 12:30pm

To book please visit Keith James Physiotherapy or

📞 0117 330 6820
🧑‍💻www.keithjamesphysiotherapy.co.uk

30/12/2025

At MH Sports Podiatry, we deliver a modern, patient-centred approach to foot & lower-limb health, combining advanced clinical technology with highly personalised care. From your first appointment, assessments are tailored to your individual needs, ensuring a clear understanding of your movement, symptoms & goals. Our focus is on providing clarity, confidence & evidence-based solutions rather than one-size-fits-all treatment.

We work with a broad spectrum of individuals, from elite & youth athletes to active individuals of all ages, across a wide range of sports. While we have particular expertise in running, athletics & football, our experience extends to many sporting & fitness disciplines. This allows us to understand sport-specific demands & apply appropriate strategies to reduce injury risk, enhance performance & support long-term participation.

Our care is centred on outcomes that matter: reducing pain, restoring function & improving confidence in movement. Through services including Run 3D Gait Analysis, VALD strength testing, custom foot orthoses, sports footwear guidance & exercise rehabilitation, MH Sports Podiatry provides end-to-end solutions that bridge accurate diagnosis with sustainable, long-term success.