Peak Performance Podiatry

02/06/2026

Great weekend attending the 2026 Sports and Exercise Podiatry Australasia Conference in Noosa. It was fantastic to connect with colleagues from across Australia and New Zealand while learning from some of the leading clinicians and researchers in sports medicine, physiotherapy and podiatry.

Some of the key clinical takeaways from the conference included:

✅ Running-related injury management and rehabilitation with insights from Associate Professor Rich W***y, including current evidence surrounding running biomechanics, bone stress injuries, patellofemoral pain and rehabilitation strategies for athletic and tactical populations.

✅ Emerging concepts in shin pain management from Laura Anderson, challenging traditional views of medial tibial stress syndrome and highlighting evolving approaches to diagnosis, load management and rehabilitation in runners.

✅ Chronic ankle instability, ankle injury management and long-term outcomes following lower limb injury from Associate Professor Claire Hiller, including the importance of recognising persistent symptoms and optimising rehabilitation pathways.

✅ Evidence-based discussions around footwear, orthotic therapy, tendon rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, injury prevention, load monitoring and return-to-sport decision making.

One of the greatest benefits of conferences like this is the opportunity to challenge existing thinking, discuss difficult cases with peers, and ensure the care we provide remains aligned with the latest evidence and best practice.

A big thank you to Sports & Exercise Podiatry Australasia, the speakers, Asics Australia, Bared Footwear and organisers for delivering another outstanding conference. We look forward to bringing these learnings back to Peak Performance Podiatry and continuing to improve outcomes for our patients.

12/05/2026

A big thank you to Garran Medical Imaging and the Canberra Raiders for hosting Performance & Injury: An MSK Evening with the Raiders.

Our team had the opportunity to attend an excellent evening of sports medicine education and multidisciplinary discussion, with valuable insights from Ricky Stuart on the season ahead and the Raiders’ high-performance and medical processes.

The evening also featured fantastic presentations on:
• PRP Therapy – Dr Jatinder Shekhawat
• FAI / Hip Impingement – Dr Alexander Burns
• Lisfranc Injuries – Dr Zafar
• Management of Ankle Injuries – Dr Yeong Joe Lau

Great to continue learning alongside other healthcare professionals and stay up to date with current approaches in sports and musculoskeletal medicine.

05/05/2026

Listen in as Pat speaks with two of the most respected clinician-athlete voices in Australian running: elite marathoner, Thomas Do Canto (Pinnacle Sports Podiatry) and middle-distance specialist, Michael Nitschke. .

In Episode 6 of , recorded live from the 2025 ASICS Sports Medicine Australia Conference, we speak with two of the most respected clinician-athlete voices in Australian running: elite marathoner, Thomas Do Canto (Pinnacle Sports Podiatry) and middle-distance specialist, Michael Nitschke. 🔬🏃‍♂️

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ The Empathy Factor: How having experienced almost every running injury first-hand creates a unique "buy-in" with patients.

👟 Super Shoe Reality: Why Michael calls these shoes the "e-bikes" of running and how they’ve sparked a participation boom by making running more enjoyable.

📊 Data vs. Nuance: Why Michael uses metrics to describe habits rather than prescribe them, plus Tom's take on visual gait analysis.

🧠 The Psychology of Injury: Navigating the "competitive parent" and coaching kids through the long-term resilience needed for sport.

🤖 The AI Clinician: Thomas shares how he utilises AI to slash admin time and deliver highly personalised, comprehensive plans to his patients.

🛡️ Experience as a Metric: Why a runner's history and years in the sport remain the most critical factors in injury prevention.

Streaming now on all major streaming platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/sole-science 🎧

A huge thank you to Michael and Tom for sharing their insights into the evolution of sports podiatry and performance.

DON'T FORGET - WE’RE PICKING UP THE PACE! 🚀 We’re breaking our usual monthly release schedule to bring you more episodes over the coming weeks. Be sure to follow us so you don’t miss a second!

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.