FOUNDER
Healus Technology’s founder, and technical director, Adri Hartveld is the footwear architect of the range of proprietary sole designs and patents.
These sole constructions have been helping people to improve their shock absorption and alignment during walking and running over the last 20 years.
In 1982 Adri qualified as a physiotherapist and moved to England. Equipped with a lot of knowledge on how to strengthen the human body and prevent injuries, he combined his physiotherapy work with running 100 miles per week over the hills of North Staffordshire.
This resulted in him winning many long-distance races and becoming Dutch National Marathon Champion in 1986.
Adri continued his studies with Keele University under the guidance of Dr John Hegarty. To make the physiotherapy exercises more effective and enjoyable for his young patients he developed balance and fitness exercises with computer games.
This patented “Compex” system with its balance board and switches was a forerunner to the Wii Fit & Wii Board.
Together with colleagues Adri developed biomechanical devices to improve posture and aid in injury prevention. He also renewed his running career testing prototype shoes and inserts – even winning races on the world’s first shoes with multiple springs in the rear and forefoot. Invariably the soles broke down causing Adri to finish races carrying parts in his hands!
An EC funded project validated the heel-less concept providing data that showed the benefits in running shoes. Reshaping the sole and adding a fibre reinforced thermoplastic plate provided a range of advantages. In road and laboratory testing over 150 trial athletes have since confirmed the benefits of the patented designs with no side effects critics expected.