Beyond the Calf Raise: Foot & Ankle Function in the Runner | Romain Tourillon

The foot and ankle are the runner's only point of contact with the ground, yet they're often reduced to calf raises, ankle mobility and a handful of intrinsic foot exercises. But are we missing the bigger picture?

In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I sit down with physiotherapist, researcher and strength & conditioning coach Romain Tourillon to explore how his research has reshaped our understanding of foot and ankle function in runners.

We discuss the concepts of the absorbing foot and propulsive foot, the role of intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles, foot stiffness, first-ray loading, MTP function, and why many traditional foot strengthening exercises may not be providing enough stimulus.

We then shift our attention to the calf, where Romain discusses his multidimensional framework for assessment and rehabilitation. We discuss maximal strength, capacity, explosive strength and reactive strength, why seated and standing calf testing provide different information, how he developed his calf-capacity circuits, and how clinicians can better translate strength gains into improved running performance.

Whether you're a clinician, coach or runner, this episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the most important yet misunderstood regions of the body.

In this episode, we cover:

Romain's PhD and how it changed his understanding of foot function
The roles of the intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles
The absorbing foot and the propulsive foot
Foot stiffness, force transmission and first-ray loading
Assessing foot and ankle function
The five dimensions of calf function
Seated versus standing calf strength testing
Why calf strength doesn't always transfer to running
Calf capacity and the development of the calf-capacity circuits
Sequencing rehabilitation from strength to reactive function
Common mistakes clinicians make when assessing and rehabilitating the foot and calf

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow The Rehab Runway, leave a rating or review, and share it with a colleague or runner who would benefit from a different way of thinking about foot and ankle rehabilitation.

🌐 ⁠Shownotes

https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/episode-18-beyond-the-calf-raise

Guest: Romain Tourillon, Sports Physiotherapist

Instagram: @romain.tourillon

LinkedIn: Romain Tourillon

Link to Romain’s Calf course: Complex Calf Course

🎙️ Subscribe to The Rehab Runway for more evidence-based conversations on running injuries, rehabilitation and performance.

🌐 ⁠https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway⁠

📱 Follow Luke Nelson: Instagram: @sportschiroluke

Beyond the Calf Raise: Foot & Ankle Function in the Runner | Romain Tourillon

The Rehab Runway: From the Treatment Room to the Track

Beyond the Calf Raise: Foot & Ankle Function in the Runner | Romain Tourillon