Matt Hart

At MH Sports Podiatry, my mission is to deliver evidence-based, athlete-centred care that enhances performance, prevents injury & supports long-term recovery for runners, athletes & active individuals of all levels. With a clinical & academic foundation in sport & exercise science & musculoskeletal podiatry, I bring a specialist focus to two key areas: Achilles tendinopathy & running footwear biomechanics.

My clinical & personal interest in Achilles tendinopathy is rooted in both professional practice & lived experience. As a competitive runner, I have personally navigated the frustrations & setbacks that come with chronic Achilles pain, an experience that shaped my approach to treatment & deepened my understanding of the condition’s physical & psychological demands. Clinically, I have worked extensively with runners, field sport athletes & team sport populations where Achilles injuries are not only common but often career-limiting when not managed correctly. I take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to rehabilitation, incorporating tendon load management, strength diagnostics, gait retraining & progressive return-to-sport strategies. My aim is not only to resolve pain but to build tendon resilience & restore high-level performance.

In addition, I have an academic, clinical & personal interest in running footwear & its relationship to fatigue, biomechanics & performance. My research has investigated how specific shoe feature, such as midsole foam & carbon plates can influence running economy & kinematics. This allows me to offer objective, individualised footwear assessments as part of a broader performance or injury-prevention strategy. Whether it’s advising elite runners on race-day shoe selection or helping recreational athletes find the right shoe for their gait, my recommendations are grounded in both the latets science experience. I have also been a competitive runner for over 30 years, running for both North Devon AC & Bristol & West AC on the track & road, competing at county, regional & national level, with a half marathon best of 1hr 13min 

Through MH Sports Podiatry, I continue to bridge the gap between research & clinical practic, using tools like 3D gait analysis, plantar pressure testing & force diagnostics, to ensure every client receives precise, actionable insight into their injury, movement & recovery.