Matt Hart

I believe that effective care begins with understanding how & why the body moves the way it does. My clinical approach is built around integrating high-precision, objective assessment tools, including Run 3D gait analysis, VALD strength testing, Footscan plantar-pressure analysis & comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluation into every appropriate care pathway. This data-led framework allows me to develop highly individualised management plans that address biomechanics, strength capacity, training load, footwear & functional movement strategies in a truly integrated way. Whether supporting return from injury, managing persistent or recurrent issues, or optimising performance, my focus is on delivering evidence-based solutions aligned with each individual’s goals.

I work with active individuals, runners & athletes of all levels, with a particular emphasis on complex & recurrent lower-limb injuries, return-to-run decision making & long-term performance development. My clinical reasoning centres on how biomechanics, strength & load interact to influence pain, injury risk & movement efficiency. By combining advanced gait, strength & pressure analysis with clinical expertise, I am skilled at identifying the mechanical & capacity-related contributors to symptoms that persist or recur despite previous treatment. Clear communication & patient education are central to my practice, ensuring individuals understand both the underlying causes of their symptoms & the rationale behind each element of their management plan.

Alongside my clinical work, I am an associate lecturer in clinical biomechanics & currently undertaking a Sports Science based PhD at Staffordshire University. My research, titled “The Biological Price of Technology: A Dynamic Systems Investigation with Single-Subject Analysis of how a Runner’s Strength and Plyometric Capacity Mediate Coordination, Control, and Metabolic Adaptation to Advanced Footwear Technology,” explores how modern running footwear interacts with individual strength, neuromuscular capacity & movement variability. This work reflects my wider interest in dynamic systems theory, responder versus non-responder behaviour & the individualised effects of technology on performance & injury risk, directly informing my clinical decision making & footwear guidance.

I also bring over 30 years of personal running experience, having competed across track, cross country & road running, representing North Devon AC & Bristol & West AC, with a half-marathon personal best of 1 hour 13 minutes. This lived experience provides first-hand insight into the realities of training load, performance pressure & injury management, allowing me to bridge the gap between objective data & real-world running demands. As a result, my assessments & recommendations are not only scientifically grounded, but practical, realistic & supportive of long-term progress & sustained performance.

My key clinical interests include running biomechanics & performance optimisation, recurrent & persistent running injuries, tendon & overuse injury management, return-to-run and load-progression strategies, & the integration of running footwear, foot orthoses & exercise-based rehabilitation.