The Foot and Ankle Podcast - Podiatric Biomechanical Theories with Anja Behling

Podiatric Biomechanical Theories with Anja Behling

10/12/23 • 74 min

Alex is joined by Anja Behling, a Biomechanist and PhD Candidate to discuss her latest paper "Chasing footprints in time - reframing our understanding of human foot function in the context of current evidence and emerging insights".

Originally designed as a historical review of podiatric biomechanical theories to assist non-Podiatrists attempting to understand how we consider foot function, during the process of writing it developed into a paper highlighting the lack of empirical support for many ways we biomechanically consider the foot and how we treat it.

In this episode Alex picks Anja's brain on the lack of research for traditional theories, emerging new insights into foot and ankle function and together they work to figure out how we can best understand the foot and ankle with the current research available.

About Anja:
Anja is a PhD Candidate in foot and ankle biomechanics working under the supervision of Podiatrist and foot biomechanics researcher Dr Luke Kelly at the University of Queensland and is co-advised by Dr Michael Rainbow at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. Originally completing a bachelors degree in biomechanics from Deutsche Sporthochschule Koln in Germany, she went on to complete a Masters of Performance Analysis and work alongside another juggernaut in biomechanics foot(wear) research, Dr Benno Nigg. With 9 current publications, including what I'd consider a seminal paper in foot and ankle podiatric biomechanics, she's someone I feel safe saying is worth watching her work in the future."

Previous Episode

Coaching in Clinical Practice with Michael Nitschke

Alex is joined by Michael Nitschke, a Sports Podiatrist and Athletics coach to discuss the concept of coaching in clinical practice, for both our athletic and non-athletic population, exercise prescription and how our role moves beyond 'fixing' patients to guiding them back to better health and performance.

About Michael:

Michael graduated with a Bachelor of Podiatry from the University of South Australia (2006) and is a certified Sports Podiatrist (APodA 2017). He has practiced for 15 years in the field of Sports Podiatry with a primary emphasis on reducing running related injury risk via education on training, recovery, strength & conditioning, biomechanics, neuromuscular re-education and footwear selection.

Michael has competed in athletics for over 2 decades, and now continues to work in athletics via coaching middle-long distance runners (Level II advanced MD/LD coach - Athletics Australia) at the Adelaide University Athletics Club and head coach of the Adelaide Milers Crew. He also makes time to train and compete himself both on the track & road running events.

More recently he has begun part-time research where the focus is looking at the training characteristics of elite and recreational runners and the association with performance and sustainability, along with investigating training pace/critical pace and track running performance prediction.

Michael is a co-host of the monthly Shoe Geeks Podcast via the Inside Running Podcast with fellow runners/shoe geeks Julian Spence (The Running Company - Geelong) & Thomas Do Canto (Pinnacle Sports Podiatry).

Next Episode

Working with Athletes, Developing as a Sports Podiatrist and Working in Private Practice with Angelo Vehlo

Alex is joined by Angelo Vehlo, a Sports and Paediatric Podiatrist from Western Australia to talk about his career, how he developed his career as a sports podiatrist/a niche in managing gymnasts and ballet dancers and what advice he would give to young clinicians with similar goals.

About Angelo:
Angelo is a Sports and Paediatric Podiatrist whose primary passion involves helping his patients rehabilitate from injuries and return to sport fitter and stronger.

Throughout his career, Angelo has worked alongside elite gymnasts, ballet dancers, and a range of contact sports to provide treatment for a range of musculoskeletal injuries, joint complaints and post-operative care. He is extremely passionate about keeping athletes active throughout their rehabilitation. He is currently the Consultant Podiatrist for Perth Demons WAFL Club where you’ll often find him on game-day taping the athletes, and works alongside both Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy and WA Youth Ballet

As a born-and-bred Londoner who grew up with a football at his feet (he also passionately supports West Ham United), Angelo has represented and participated in many sporting codes throughout his life including swimming, rugby, and cricket. He loves food and wine and holidaying overseas.

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