The sporting foot complex: from rehab to sport performance

The sporting foot-ankle complex: from rehab to sport performance

Course Content

Are you looking for an in-depth course on foot-related complaints? Then The Sporting Foot-Ankle Complex: From Rehab to Sport Performance is exactly what you need. This two-day course offers a comprehensive approach to the treatment of foot and ankle conditions. Combining evidence-based theory with practical application, you’ll learn how to effectively restore and strengthen foot function after injury.

As the first point of contact with the ground, the foot is a fundamental region in human biomechanics. Whether it’s running, jumping, accelerating, or changing direction, the foot plays a crucial role in absorbing impact forces and transferring power generated by the proximal joints.

Scientific data produced over the past decade highlights the importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles in optimizing energy efficiency and lower limb propulsion.

That’s why the real challenge for any clinician lies in their ability to effectively strengthen the foot muscles of their patients.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

Objectively assess foot muscle strength.
Effectively strengthen the foot’s shock-absorbing and propulsive muscles for rehabilitation or athletic development.
Improve the plyometric capacity, reactive strength, and explosiveness of the foot-ankle complex.

The language of instruction for this course is English.

Course Details

Fee: €595
Dates: Friday 24th and Saturday 25th of April 2026
Location: Feel Fit Center – Rhenen (NL)

Accreditation:

SKF & Kwaliteitshuis:
- General register: 12 points
- Sports register: 12 points
Pro-Q-Kiné:
- General Physiotherapy: 24 points
- Manual Therapy: 32 points (automatically added)
- Sports Physiotherapy: 32 points (automatically added)

Catering: Includes coffee, tea, drinks, and lunch.

Spots available: 24

Target Audience: Physiotherapists, sports physiotherapists, manual therapists, and podiatrists
Level: Post-bachelor (post-HBO)
Admission Requirements: Not applicable
Study Load: 18 hours
Contact Hours: 18 hours
Number of Contact Days: 2
Assessment: None

No study materials are required for this course.
At the end of the course, each participant will receive a handout and a certificate.

About the expert

Romain Tourillon

Romain Tourillon combines his roles as a sports physiotherapist, researcher, and lecturer through his work with individual athletes at the Olympic Medical Service of La Tour Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. He earned his PhD from the Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne with a dissertation titled: “The role of metatarsophalangeal joints flexion strength in propulsion kinetics and sport physical performance.” His research focused on the role of foot muscle strength in the kinematics of sports performance, under the supervision of Prof. JB Morin.

Romain works daily with (elite) athletes and is a highly sought-after speaker at international conferences.

Romain actively contributes to the international representation of the profession as an engaged member of the scientific organization International Ankle Consortium, and he will be organizing the upcoming International Ankle Symposium 2024 in France.

As a speaker, Romain has participated in various national and international conferences, including the International Ankle Symposium, the French Ankle Symposium, and the European Congress of Sports Science. He has also published several peer-reviewed articles on the topic of human foot muscle strength.

In addition, Romain has authored two insightful articles for the Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal and Sportsmith.

Course schedule

Day 1 (09:00–18:00)

Course Introduction
The Biomechanical Role of the Foot and Its Muscles (theory)
Key Sports Injuries of the Foot Complex: Heel Pain, Bone Stress Injuries, and Metatarsalgia (theory & practice)
Assessment of the “Absorbing Foot” and “Propulsive Foot” (theory & practice)
Principles of Foot Strengthening Strategies: Are We Heading in the Right Direction? (theory & practice)

Day 2 (09:00–18:00)

Enhancing the “Absorbing Foot” and “Propulsive Foot” (theory & practice)
Improving Explosiveness and Reactive Strength of the Foot-Ankle Complex (theory & practice)
Designing a Foot Strengthening Protocol: Principles and Periodization (theory)
Integrating Foot Strengthening into High-Performance Athletic Training (theory)
Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Other

Reviews

These are very valuable insights into building stability and strength for the ankle, foot, and lower leg. Especially the fact that the lower leg muscles play such a major role in moving the foot. The exercises are easy to integrate into treatment. In addition, the French-English was also easy for me to follow.

Great course with clear and thorough depth regarding foot and ankle complaints. The course provides more knowledge about the anatomy, pathophysiology, and function of the intrinsic and extrinsic foot musculature. Theory is combined with practice, giving you new insights into training the foot and ankle. Easy to apply and highly practical.