François FOURCHET

Biography

François Fourchet is a French sports physiotherapist, also osteopath and researcher. Since September 2014, he joined the Physiotherapy Department of the Hôpital de La Tour in Meyrin/Geneva (Switzerland) in order to manage the Motion Analysis Laboratory and the research aspects related to sports physiotherapy. Since August the 1^st 2019 he is the head of this department and manages more than 70 staff members. He continues to treat patients including runners of all levels.

Previously, François was a physiotherapist for 9 years at the Aspire Academy (Aspetar) in Doha (Qatar), mainly in charge of the follow-up and prevention of injuries in athletes, but also in soccer players. Before discovering Qatar, this former high-level 800m runner was in charge of the French track and field team and the Stade de Reims professional football team.

For 15 years, François Fourchet has been widely involved in sports science and clinical research. Holder of a PhD in sports science since 2012, he has published more than 50 articles in national and international medical and sports science journals, especially in the fields of prevention of running injuries, foot core strengthening and effects of fatigue on the running biomechanics. He has had the opportunity to present his work at more than 60 conferences and congresses. He has also co-authored a book for the general public about running.

François Fourchet (francois.fourchet @ latour.ch)

Institution

Hôpital La Tour (Geneva)

Head of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Department

Team: [SPIP]

Position

Adjunct Researcher

Publications

Main contributions

1. The concept of foot core strengthening: the intrinsic foot muscles in particular must be considered for performance and the treatment / prevention of lower limb injuries.

2. Electrostimulation is a useful and reliable tool for stimulating and even strengthening the intrinsic foot muscles.

3. Foot strike position during running can be modified by stimulating the intrinsic foot muscles with applications in the prevention of the effects of fatigue and in the treatment of certain pathologies involving uncontrolled pronation.

4. The management of ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability should be conducted according to an individualized assessment and protocol as recommended by the International Ankle Consortium in 2019.