Nicolas Haelewijn
Nicolas Haelewijn graduated in 2020 as a sports physiotherapist from the Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at KU Leuven. In 2021, he additionally obtained a master’s degree in Teaching in Health Sciences, combining his biomedical background with pedagogical insights and didactic skills.
In 2025, Nicolas obtained his doctorate in rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy with his dissertation “Foot muscle morphology and multi-segment foot biomechanics in symptomatic flexible flatfoot”. During his doctoral research, he focused on the biomechanics of the foot, with particular attention to the intrinsic foot muscles and the biomechanical behaviour of the multi-segment foot in individuals with symptomatic and asymptomatic flexible flatfeet. He also investigated differences in foot function between both groups and worked on the development of reliable assessment methods for foot muscle strength and ultrasound imaging. His research provided new insights into why some individuals with a flexible flatfoot develop symptoms while others do not, and how targeted interventions such as muscle training and orthotics can influence foot function.
Alongside his research activities, Nicolas works in clinical practice at Kinesitherapie Voorwaarts, where he guides patients within physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation. He is also affiliated with KU Leuven as a teaching assistant, where he is involved in education and supervision within the rehabilitation sciences programme.
Publications from Nicolas
Below you can find some of Nicolas’s recent publications. A complete overview can be found on his ResearchGate page.
Haelewijn N, Deknudt I, Vanhaelewyn M, Staes F, Vereecke E, Deschamps K. Differences in Plantar Pressure Distribution Between Adults with Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Flexible Flatfeet During Walking and Heel-Strike Running. Sensors (Basel). 2026 Apr 16;26(8):2451. doi: 10.3390/s26082451. PMID: 42076561; PMCID: PMC13119613.
Haelewijn N, Staes F, Vereecke E, Deschamps K. From structure to function: Biomechanical markers of symptomatic flatfoot during running and a single leg drop and hop. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2025 Dec;130:106682. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2025.106682. Epub 2025 Oct 14. PMID: 41109002.
Haelewijn N, Staes F, Vereecke E, Rosseel S, Deschamps K. Single Leg Drop and Hop: Insight Into Multisegment Foot Kinematics, Kinetics and the Role of Visual Focus in Healthy Young Adult Males. J Foot Ankle Res. 2025 Sep;18(3):e70078. doi: 10.1002/jfa2.70078. PMID: 40890940; PMCID: PMC12401937.
Haelewijn N, Peters-Dickie JL, de Ridder R, Deschamps K, Detrembleur C, Lobet S, Spanhove V. Quantitative ultrasonography of the foot muscles: a comprehensive perspective on reliability. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2025 Jan 2;15(1):203-216. doi: 10.21037/qims-24-1309. Epub 2024 Dec 30. PMID: 39839034; PMCID: PMC11744127.
Haelewijn N, Gelaude A, Allemeersch L, Staes F, Vereecke E, Spanhove V, De Ridder R, Deschamps K. Reliability of direct and indirect measures of intrinsic foot muscle strength in adults: A systematic review. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2025 Jan;121:106378. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2024.106378. Epub 2024 Nov 17. PMID: 39571476.
Haelewijn N, Peters Dickie JL, Staes F, Vereecke E, Deschamps K. Current evidence regarding 2D ultrasonography monitoring of intrinsic foot muscle
properties: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2023 Jul 17;9(8):e18252. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18252. PMID: 37520980; PMCID: PMC10374929.