Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Leading Children's Podiatrists Bella Vista
Gentle care for growing feet, step by step
Paediatric Podiatrist
Does your little one regularly mention discomfort in their feet or legs?
Dr Angus Chard PhD, renowned for his expertise in children’s podiatry, leads the Foot and Leg Pain Centre near Bella Vista as its owner and Certified Sports Podiatrist. With a Doctorate in Lower-Limb and Foot Musculoskeletal Medicine, focused on Paediatric and Sports Injuries, Dr Chard has extensive experience in managing children’s foot and leg conditions. He works closely with the clinic’s podiatrists, who also specialise in paediatric podiatry, ensuring consistent and exceptional care for young patients.
Paediatric Podiatrist Bella Vista
A medical setting can feel daunting for children, which is why we aim to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that each child feels at ease and receives exceptional care during their visit.
Michael Chard, a Licensed Service Dog, is known for his ability to provide emotional support through his calming presence and cuddles. His gentle nature helps children feel at ease and offers comfort to anyone in need.
Our Approach to Helping You
Flat Feet
After 18 months, flat feet often appear in young children and typically resolve on their own. Yet, in some situations, they remain and may cause lifelong difficulties. Early assessment, similar to checking teeth or vision, is essential to address conditions that need attention. Regular follow-ups help ensure children grow out of any identified issues successfully.
Intoe Walking
Intoe walking, also known as pigeon toes, is a common condition in young children and often corrects itself by the age of 4. If it persists beyond this age, it may result in instability, discomfort, or changes in movement patterns. Early intervention can help ensure proper development and avoid potential problems.
Toe Walking
Toe walking is often seen in toddlers but, if it continues past age 4, it may signal underlying issues like muscle tightness or neurological conditions. Without intervention, it could result in joint pain or discomfort in the knees and lower back. Early evaluation is crucial to address these concerns, support proper growth, and maintain your child’s mobility and comfort.
Late or Non Walkers
If a child is not walking by 18 months, it may indicate potential foot or leg issues. A podiatric assessment followed by regular measurements provides a foundation for monitoring healthy developmental progress.
Banana Foot
Known as banana foot, metatarsus adductus results in a curved-in foot shape, usually due to pressure from the foetal position. While it often resolves on its own by age 4, addressing it early, ideally before age 2, is vital. Neglecting the condition can lead to structural abnormalities and chronic aches.
Growing Pains
While leg aches and pains are common after growth spurts, persistent pain beyond two months is widely recognised as abnormal. These symptoms can often be resolved when treated as muscle overuse syndromes. The outdated notion that growing pains are a natural part of development lacks evidence and should no longer be accepted.
Severs
A common condition in children aged 7–12, Sever’s disease leads to heel pain during growth spurts. This issue frequently arises in active children but can also affect those who are less active. Treating the structural factors causing the pain can provide relief for all children.
Vertical Talus
Talipes calcaneovalgus, or a vertically aligned talus, can cause excessively flat feet. While the condition often resolves naturally, it may persist, leading to flat feet in later life with associated strength and movement issues. Early assessment is crucial to support children in achieving important physical milestones such as walking and climbing stairs.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Expert Care for Kids' Feet in Sydney
The growth of a toddler’s legs and feet brings many changes. Consistent measurements are vital to catching potential issues early for timely intervention. Supporting healthy adult legs starts now — act early to promote your child’s well-being.
1-2 years
This is a critical stage where we track your baby’s transition to toddlerhood, evaluating their foot structure and progress. By monitoring milestones like crawling and walking, we ensure they grow healthily and address any concerns early.
2-3 years
We evaluate your toddler’s walking patterns, posture, and balance, checking for concerns such as excessively flat feet that could impact their development. Our guidance ensures they grow with healthy movement as they begin to explore.
4-6 years
As children grow more active, we assess their feet for conditions like excessive flatness or walking irregularities, such as in-toeing, toe walking, or clumsiness. This helps ensure proper development so they can move confidently.
Paediatric Assessment
Big care for tiny feet – make your little one’s podiatry appointment today.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Helping your child thrive
Growing bodies may experience achy legs, postural concerns, or structural issues in the feet and legs. Detecting these early promotes healthy development and ensures kids can stay active with their peers.
We focus on early care to support healthy development at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre.
Your First Visit
Your child’s initial visit includes a detailed and fun assessment, focused on diagnosing their foot health while ensuring a supportive and comfortable environment for everyone.
Treatment
We provide individualised care for your child, concentrating on specialised strategies to ensure healthy foot growth and relieve any pain or discomfort.
Working Towards Your Outcomes
Our mission is to provide your child with the best care, fostering improved foot health and confidence so they can stay active, happy, and ready to explore.
Why Choose Us
A Team You Can Rely On
Renowned worldwide, Dr Angus Chard, PhD, is a second-generation Certified Sports Podiatrist with a wealth of clinical experience, guiding a team of expert professionals.
Dedicated to Helping
The team at Foot and Leg Pain Centre is committed to supporting people, including children of all ages, in achieving their goals and alleviating their pain.
Evidence-Based Care
Our warm demeanour and ability to put children at ease are paired with treatments grounded in both scientific research and practical experience. We provide clear facts and options, fostering a patient-centred, relaxed environment.
Helping Little Feet And Legs
The Foot and Leg Pain Centre provides a broad selection of treatments, tailored to your child’s needs based on the pain’s location, type, and cause.
For some children, 3D printed custom orthotics are ideal, while others may require ongoing monitoring, footwear advice, exercises for foot strength, posture assessments and biomechanical checks, manual rehabilitation, or adjustments to their walking and running styles.
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Angus Chard PhD
Dr Angus Chard PhD, our Founder and Director, is a Certified Sports Podiatrist with 32+ years of experience, committed to guiding young patients towards treatments that combine proven evidence and practical effectiveness.
Healthy feet mean happy kids – schedule an appointment with Dr Angus Chard PhD or one of our skilled podiatrists near Bella Vista today.
Meet The Team
Michelle Cuthbert
With over two decades of podiatric expertise, Michelle Cuthbert specialises in children’s foot health. A runner and mother of two young girls, she is passionate about the importance of early intervention and delivering tailored care to support children’s well-being.
Thomas Shannon
Thomas Shannon, a talented podiatrist and elite athlete, has a strong interest in paediatric lower limb care. Leveraging his expertise in strength, conditioning, and athletics, he provides tailored care for young patients. Thomas proudly represented Australia in hammer throw and Olympic weightlifting.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
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Paediatric Assessment
Tiny feet deserve big care – schedule your little one’s podiatry appointment today.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
While this is true for some children, early assessment is essential to confirm their development stays on track. Overlooking concerns can lead to avoidable pain and missed treatment opportunities. Podiatry care helps address these issues so your child can grow without discomfort.
While occasional activity-related discomfort in children is expected, ongoing aches in the legs and feet are not typical. Persistent growing pains are treatable once the underlying muscle overuse is identified and managed.
Children with flat feet often tire quickly during physical activities and may exhibit abnormal knee and ankle movements. Arch maturity is typically achieved by age eight, but 39% of adolescents with flat feet may experience knee pain, while 35% could develop hip or lower back pain. Since adult-like walking patterns mature by age four, ignoring abnormal foot positions can lead to retained walking styles like pigeon-toeing, bow-leggedness, or toe-walking into adulthood.
Early assessment is crucial for your child’s foot and leg health. During the first visit, we’ll conduct a thorough biomechanical assessment, gait analysis, and precise measurements. This provides a baseline for future monitoring, ensuring proper development. Even infants can experience foot and leg issues, so addressing concerns early with a skilled professional is essential.
No referral is required to book a podiatry appointment for any age or reason. Simply book online or call the practice, and we’ll collect all necessary details at your initial visit.
All parents should consider a foot assessment for their child, similar to routine eye and dental exams. If your child is experiencing discomfort, we can assist. Not sure? A thorough initial check-up will identify any concerns and recommend solutions. In emergencies, always call 000.
Properly fitted children’s shoes should always offer comfort, with adequate length, width, and room for toes. Evidence highlights that barefoot walking fosters healthier and stronger feet. The natural contact with the ground activates muscles essential for development, but even the most minimalist shoes can interrupt this process.
Choosing shoes for your child should align with their needs and activities. Barefoot-like, flexible footwear is often suitable, but sometimes supportive styles are better. The ideal shoe has a flat, flexible sole that bends at the toes, a wide toe box, and secure fasteners like straps or laces to ensure proper fit and comfort.
Led by Dr Angus Chard PhD, the team at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre has the expertise, credentials, and connections with shoe stores and manufacturers to help you navigate the complexities of footwear options. For tailored advice regarding your child’s foot needs, reach out to our podiatrists today.
Of course, we do. But we also believe in combining evidence with clinical experience for the best outcomes. Blindly following evidence alone doesn’t always address individual needs. Here are the references for the details provided on this page.
- Alfaro-Santafé, J., et al. (2021). “Effectiveness of Custom-Made Foot Orthoses vs. Heel-Lifts in Children with Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever’s Disease): A CONSORT-Compliant Randomized Trial.” Children 8(11): 963.
- Bleck, E. E. (1983). “Metatarsus adductus: Classification and relationship to outcomes of treatment.” Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 3(1): 2-9.
- Chard, A., et al. (2011). Effect Thong Style Flip-Flop Footwear On Children’s Hallux Sagittal Plane Motion During Gait. International Society of Biomechanics, Brussels, Belgium, publisher.
- Chard, A., et al. (2012). “Effect of thong style flip-flops on children’s midfoot motion during gait.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 5(Suppl 1): O19.
- Smith, R., et al. (2012). “Biomechanics of footwear design.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 5(Suppl 1): I1.
- Chard, A., et al. (2013). “Effect of thong style flip-flops on children’s barefoot walking and jogging kinematics.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 6(1): 8.
- Chard, A., et al. (2015). Effect of thong style flip flops on children’s sidestep kinematics International Society of Biomechanics in Sport, Poitiers, France, Sports Biomechanics.
- Chard, B.A., The effect of unsupportive and supportive footwear on children’s multi-segment foot dynamics during gait. 2017. USYD Thesis – DOWNLAOD HERE http://hdl.handle.net/2123/18659
- Gijon-Nogueron, G., et al. (2016). “Establishing normative foot posture index values for the paediatric population: A cross-sectional study.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 9(1): 1.
- Kothari, A., et al., Are flexible flat feet associated with proximal joint problems in children? Gait and Posture, 2016. 45: p. 204-210.
- Lin, C.-J., et al., Correlating factors and clinical significance of flexible flatfoot in preschool children. Journal of pediatric orthopaedics, 2001. 21(3): p. 378-382.
- Mauch, M., et al. (2008). “Foot morphology of normal, underweight and overweight children.” International Journal of Obesity 32(7): 1068-1075.
- McKay, M. J., et al. (2015). “1000 Norms Project: protocol of a cross-sectional study cataloging human variation.” Physiotherapy.
- Mickle, K. J., et al. (2006). “The feet of overweight and obese young children: Are they flat or fat?” Obesity 14(11): 1949-1953.
- Mudge, A. J., et al. (2014). “Normative reference values for lower limb joint range, bone torsion, and alignment in children aged 4-16 years.” Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics Part B 23(1): 15-25.
- Redmond A, Crane Y, Menz H. Normative values for the Foot Posture Index. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. 2008;1(1):6.
- Sanders, R., Orr, R., Chiu, C., Chard, A., Tompsett, C., Fleeton, J., Davies, T., Fong Yan, A. (2018). Development of talent of adolescents in Australian sports high schools. In Pedro Morouço, Portugal: ESECS/Instituto Politcnico de Leiria.
- Staheli, L., et al. (1985). “Lower-extremity rotational problems in children. Normal values to guide management.” J Bone Joint Surg Am 67(1): 39-47.
- Sutherland, D. H. (2001). “The evolution of clinical gait analysis part l: kinesiological EMG.” Gait & Posture 14(1): 61-70.
- Sutherland, D. H. (2002). “The evolution of clinical gait analysis: Part II Kinematics.” Gait & Posture 16(2): 159-179.
- Sutherland, D. H. (2005). “The evolution of clinical gait analysis part III – kinetics and energy assessment.” Gait & Posture 21(4): 447-461.
- Wegener C, et al. (2011). “Effect of children’s shoes on gait: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 4(3).
- Wegener, C., et al. (2013). “Effect of sports shoes on children’s vertical jump performance and midfoot and ankle kinetics.” Footwear Science 5(SUPPL. 1): S58-S59.
- Wegener, C., et al. (2013). “Effect of sports shoes on midfoot power generation in children while walking and running.” Footwear Science 5(sup1): S55-S56.
- Wegener, C., et al. (2015). “In-shoe multi-segment foot kinematics of children during the propulsive phase of walking and running.” Human Movement Science 39: 200-211.
We are an approved and audited NDIS provider, welcoming all NDIS patients, including those who are self-managed, agency-managed, or NDIS-managed. We prioritise providing a personalised experience and are mindful of the extra time some appointments may require. From accommodating heightened touch sensitivity to assisting with wheelchairs or other specific needs, we are experienced and ready to help.
We are trusted by thousands of happy patients and our results speak for themselves
Families in Dural, NSW, and nearby suburbs trust the Foot and Leg Pain Centre for paediatric podiatry. We serve patients from Westmead, Richmond, Arcadia, Bella Vista, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Galston, Glenhaven, Hornsby, Kellyville, Northmead, Norwest, Rouse Hill, Westleigh, Kenthurst, Parramatta, Seven Hills and more areas for paediatric podiatry. Secure your child’s appointment today!