Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Leading Children's Podiatrists Castle Hill
Gentle care for growing feet, step by step
Paediatric Podiatrist
Are sore feet or legs a recurring issue for your child?
Dr Angus Chard PhD, a Certified Sports Podiatrist and the owner of the Foot and Leg Pain Centre near Castle Hill, 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 Castle Hill
We understand that medical settings can sometimes feel intimidating or overwhelming for children. That’s why we focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring it feels safe and supportive rather than frightening. Our aim is to provide exceptional care and a positive experience for every child.
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.
How We Support 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
Intoe walking, commonly referred to as pigeon toes, is normal in young children and usually resolves by age 4. When it doesn’t, it can contribute to instability, pain, or difficulties with movement. Early assessment and intervention can support healthy growth and minimise discomfort.
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 (metatarsus adductus) causes a curved appearance in the feet, often due to foetal positioning and intrauterine pressure. While it may self-correct by age 4, interventions become less effective after age 2, making early detection crucial. If left untreated, it can develop into a structural issue, leading to various aches and discomfort.
Growing Pains
Generalised leg aches and pains are often deemed normal shortly after a growth spurt, but experts agree that pain lasting beyond two months is abnormal. These issues can be effectively treated when identified as gross muscle overuse syndromes. Growing pains don’t need to be part of your child’s life—modern research shows they’re not an inevitable part of growing.
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
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
Top Paediatric Podiatry Care in Sydney
During a toddler’s growth, their legs and feet undergo significant transformations. Regular monitoring helps detect problems early, enabling prompt care. Healthy adult legs begin with proactive measures in childhood — ensure your child’s development is on the right track.
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 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
Support your child’s growing feet – book their podiatry appointment now.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Helping your child thrive
As children grow, they may face leg discomfort, postural issues, or structural abnormalities. Addressing these early supports proper growth and helps them remain active alongside their friends.
Supporting healthy growth through early care is our priority at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre.
Your First Visit
At the first appointment, we’ll carry out a thorough and enjoyable assessment of your child’s foot health, creating a stress-free and caring environment for both you and your child.
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
Your Trusted Team for Support
Dr Angus Chard, PhD, is a globally respected figure in his field, a second-generation Certified Sports Podiatrist with vast clinical expertise, leading a team of dedicated professionals.
Committed to Caring
The Foot and Leg Pain Centre team works tirelessly to assist people of all ages, including children, in reaching their goals and managing their pain effectively.
Evidence-Based Care
With our positive approach and focus on making children feel at ease, we deliver treatments that balance evidence-based methods with clinical expertise. We present facts and options clearly, ensuring a supportive and relaxed 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.
While some children may need 3D printed custom orthotics, others could benefit from follow-up care, footwear suggestions, foot strengthening activities, posture and biomechanical assessments, manual rehabilitation, or walking and running technique improvements.
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Angus Chard PhD
With more than 32 years of clinical expertise, Dr Angus Chard PhD, our Founder and Director, focuses on helping young patients achieve the right balance between evidence-based care and successful treatments.
Support your child’s foot health for a happier future – book an appointment with Dr Angus Chard PhD or one of our trusted podiatrists near Castle Hill 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
Thomas Shannon is an experienced podiatrist and accomplished athlete with a focus on paediatric lower limb care. With a background in musculoskeletal strength, conditioning, and elite sports, Thomas offers exceptional care for young patients. He 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
In some instances, yes, but it’s crucial to have your child assessed to ensure they do. Ignoring problems can lead to unnecessary pain and missed treatment windows. Podiatry intervention helps identify and correct potential issues, supporting pain-free growth for your child.
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.
Flat feet in children have been linked to quick fatigue during activities and more pathological movements in the knees and ankles. While foot arches mature by age eight, 39% of adolescents with flat feet are at risk of knee pain, and 35% may develop hip or back issues. Walking patterns mature by age four, and failing to address abnormal foot positions can result in persistent issues like toe-walking or pigeon-toed walking into adulthood.
An early assessment is the best approach for ensuring your child’s healthy development. At the first visit, we’ll take precise measurements and perform a detailed biomechanical and gait analysis. This helps track growth and catch issues early. Children, including infants, can develop foot and leg concerns, so prompt care from an experienced provider is essential.
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.
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.
With Dr Angus Chard PhD at the helm, the Foot and Leg Pain Centre team combines expertise, qualifications, and partnerships with shoe retailers and manufacturers to assist you in navigating footwear options. For advice tailored to your child’s foot care, consult with our podiatrists today.
Yes, we take an evidence-based approach. However, we also value the balance between evidence and hands-on experience, as relying solely on research can be limiting. References for the information on this page are listed below.
- 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 a certified NDIS provider, offering services to all NDIS patients, including self-managed, agency-managed, and NDIS-managed individuals. We take a personalised approach to care and are sensitive to the extra time or accommodations some appointments may need, such as touch sensitivity or wheelchair support. Our team is ready to assist.
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!