Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Leading Children's Podiatrists Bella Vista
Supporting tiny feet on their journey
Paediatric Podiatrist
Is your child frequently complaining about sore feet or legs?
Dr Angus Chard PhD, a Certified Sports Podiatrist and the owner of the Foot and Leg Pain Centre near Bella Vista, brings a wealth of expertise to children’s podiatry. With his Doctorate specialising in Lower-Limb and Foot Musculoskeletal Medicine, focusing on Paediatric and Sports Injuries, Dr Chard is highly skilled in managing children’s foot and leg conditions. He personally supervises the treatments offered by the clinic’s podiatrists, all of whom share a keen interest in paediatric podiatry. Dr Chard’s unique combination of expertise and dedication ensures outstanding care for children.
Paediatric Podiatrist Bella Vista
Children can find medical settings intimidating, so we strive to make our space welcoming and comfortable. By avoiding unnecessary seriousness, we ensure a positive experience while providing the best possible care for every child.
Michael Chard, a Licensed Service Dog, provides incredible comfort and emotional support with his gentle scratches and cuddles. His calm and loving nature helps reduce anxiety in children and brings peace to those who need it most.
Our Approach to Helping You

Flat Feet
Flat feet in young children, often identified after 18 months, are a common occurrence and tend to resolve naturally over time. However, in some instances, they persist and can lead to lifelong challenges. Early evaluation is crucial, similar to regular eye or dental check-ups, to catch conditions that may require intervention. Once assessed, children can be tracked to ensure they develop normally.

Intoe Walking
Pigeon toes, or intoe walking, frequently occur in young children and typically improve naturally by the age of 4. In cases where it continues beyond this point, it may cause instability, pain, or altered movement. Taking early action can promote healthy development and prevent future complications.

Toe Walking
Persisting toe walking after age 4, while common in toddlers, can suggest muscle tightness or neurological challenges. Over time, this can lead to joint pain and discomfort in the knees or lower back. An early evaluation helps prevent complications, ensuring your child’s healthy development and comfort.

Late or Non Walkers
Children who haven’t started walking by 18 months may face underlying foot or leg challenges. Early assessment and periodic measurements help track and support their developmental milestones.

Banana Foot
Banana foot, or metatarsus adductus, gives the feet a curved-in appearance, often due to intrauterine pressure and foetal positioning. While it may improve naturally by age 4, early intervention is key as treatments are less effective after age 2. Ignored cases can lead to structural deformities and ongoing pain.

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
Sever’s disease, which typically occurs in children between 7 and 12 years old, is a growth-related condition causing heel pain. While it’s often linked to activity levels, inactive children can also experience this discomfort. Effective treatment focuses on correcting the structural predispositions causing the pain.

Vertical Talus
A vertically aligned talus, known as talipes calcaneovalgus, can sometimes result in excessively flat feet. Although this condition usually corrects itself, persistent cases can lead to long-term issues, including reduced foot strength. Early intervention helps children reach critical milestones like standing, walking, and running with confidence.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Sydney's Premier Children's Foot Specialist
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
At this stage, we focus on tracking your baby’s development into a toddler, paying special attention to their foot structure and milestones like crawling, standing, and walking. Early intervention helps ensure healthy growth.
2-3 years
We monitor your toddler’s walking patterns, posture, and balance closely, addressing concerns like flat feet that might affect their development. Our recommendations support their healthy and active growth as they discover the world.
4-6 years
During these active years, we evaluate your child’s feet for concerns like flat feet or gait issues, including in-toeing and toe walking. Our focus is on promoting healthy development so they can walk, run, and play with ease.
Paediatric Assessment
Big care for tiny feet – make your little one’s podiatry appointment today.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Encouraging healthy growth for your child
Leg aches, foot posture challenges, and structural concerns can occur as children grow. Early detection ensures healthy skeletal development and helps them stay on par 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 develop customised treatment plans designed to meet your child’s specific needs, focusing on strategies that encourage healthy foot growth and alleviate any 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 Reliable Team for Your Care
Dr Angus Chard, PhD, is an acclaimed Certified Sports Podiatrist with a global reputation, bringing years of clinical knowledge to his leadership of a collaborative team.

Driven to Support
At Foot and Leg Pain Centre, our entire team focuses on helping individuals, including children of all ages, to achieve their goals and find relief from pain.

Evidence-Based Care
Along with our cheerful approach and knack for helping children feel comfortable, we deliver treatments that combine scientific evidence with clinical expertise. We offer clear information and treatment choices, ensuring a supportive and stress-free experience.
Helping Little Feet And Legs
At Foot and Leg Pain Centre, we provide a variety of treatment options. The best approach for your child will depend on factors like the location, type, and cause of their pain.
Some children might benefit from 3D printed custom orthotics, while others may require follow-ups, footwear guidance, foot strengthening exercises, posture and biomechanical assessments, manual rehabilitation, or adjustments to their walking and running techniques.
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
As a podiatrist with more than 20 years of experience, Michelle Cuthbert has a keen interest in children’s foot health. Her background as a runner and mother of two inspires her dedication to early intervention and providing customised care to support young patients.

Thomas Shannon
A skilled podiatrist and professional athlete, Thomas Shannon is dedicated to paediatric lower limb care. His background in musculoskeletal strength, conditioning, and elite sports enhances his ability to care for young patients. Thomas has 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.
It’s common for children to experience occasional activity-related aches similar to adults, but persistent tired, achy legs and feet are not normal. Persistent growing pains can be effectively managed by identifying and addressing the root cause of muscle overuse.
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.
The sooner your child is assessed, the better. At their first appointment, we’ll measure and evaluate their feet and legs with a detailed biomechanical analysis and gait assessment. This initial check allows for ongoing monitoring to ensure healthy growth. Structural abnormalities and foot pain can affect children of all ages, so early intervention by a trusted professional is key.
There’s no need for a referral to book a podiatry visit. Whether online or by contacting the practice, we’ll handle everything during your first consultation.
We recommend parents have their child’s feet checked at least once, just like regular eye or dental check-ups. If your child has foot or leg pain, we’re here to help. Unsure? An initial assessment will pinpoint the issue and guide the next steps. For emergencies, always dial 000.
Children’s shoes should provide ample comfort, with proper length, width, and plenty of room for toes. Research shows that barefoot walking is best for developing feet, as it promotes healthier, stronger growth. The sensory connection with the ground stimulates muscle activity, aiding proper development, whereas even minimalist shoes can disrupt this feedback.
The appropriate footwear for your child varies based on their goals. In some cases, minimalist, flexible shoes are ideal, while others require supportive footwear with tailored levels of structure. Opt for shoes with flat, flexible soles that bend at the toe and a wider front than heel. Laces or straps are essential to keep the shoes snug and prevent unnecessary movement.
The Foot and Leg Pain Centre, led by Dr Angus Chard PhD, offers the experience and industry connections needed to simplify the often-confusing world of footwear choices. For specific guidance on your child’s foot health, schedule a consultation with 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





