Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Leading Children's Podiatrists Cherrybrook
Nurturing little feet with every step
Paediatric Podiatrist
Does your little one regularly mention discomfort in their feet or legs?
As the owner and Certified Sports Podiatrist at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre near Cherrybrook, Dr Angus Chard PhD has a particular passion for children’s podiatry. His Doctorate in Lower-Limb and Foot Musculoskeletal Medicine, with a focus on Paediatric and Sports Injuries, makes him highly qualified in treating children’s foot and leg conditions. Dr Chard oversees every treatment at the clinic, ensuring that his team of podiatrists, who also prioritise children’s podiatry, deliver exceptional care tailored to young patients.
Paediatric Podiatrist Cherrybrook
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.
As a Licensed Service Dog, Michael Chard offers unmatched emotional support through his affectionate cuddles and soothing presence. His calm demeanour helps ease children’s anxiety and provides comfort to those seeking solace.
What We Can Do for 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
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
Metatarsus adductus, commonly known as banana foot, presents as an inward curve of the feet, typically caused by the foetal position and uterine pressure. Although it can resolve naturally by age 4, treatment is most effective before age 2. Without intervention, it may progress to a structural deformity, resulting in dynamic pain 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
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
Top Paediatric Podiatry Care in Sydney
As toddlers develop, their legs and feet undergo major changes. Regular check-ups and measurements help catch potential issues early, ensuring timely care. Setting the foundation for healthy adult legs starts with early intervention — prioritise your child’s growth today.
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
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
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.
At the Foot and Leg Pain Centre, we prioritise early intervention to encourage healthy growth.
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
Tailored to your child’s unique requirements, our treatments focus on supporting healthy foot development and addressing any discomfort effectively.
Working Towards Your Outcomes
Helping your child reach their full potential is our priority, ensuring they walk, run, and play with enhanced foot health and confidence in an active, cheerful way.
Why Choose Us
Your Trusted Team for Support
As a second-generation Certified Sports Podiatrist, Dr Angus Chard, PhD, is internationally recognised for his expertise and extensive clinical experience, heading a team of skilled 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
We pride ourselves on our friendly attitude and skill in creating a comforting atmosphere for children, offering treatments informed by both evidence and experience. Our approach ensures you receive clear guidance and a stress-free setting.
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.
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
Our Founder and Director, Dr Angus Chard PhD, a Certified Sports Podiatrist with over 32 years of clinical experience, is passionate about helping young patients balance evidence-based care with effective 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 Cherrybrook 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, 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
In certain cases, yes, but an initial assessment ensures their progress is monitored effectively. Ignoring issues could result in prolonged discomfort and missed treatment opportunities, as not all conditions resolve on their own. Podiatry can provide the support needed to prevent pain and promote healthy development.
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 are known to tire easily during physical activities and may develop irregular knee and ankle motions. Arches typically mature by age eight, but 39% of adolescents with flat feet risk knee pain, and 35% may face hip or back problems. By age four, walking patterns mature, and neglecting foot abnormalities can cause conditions like toe-walking or pigeon-toeing to persist 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.
Having your child’s feet checked, like their eyes or teeth, is essential. If they’re experiencing pain, we can provide support. Even if you’re unsure, an initial assessment can identify potential issues and recommend a solution. For emergencies, remember to call 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.
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.
As an audited NDIS provider, we proudly accept all NDIS patients, whether they are NDIS-managed, agency-managed, or self-managed. We emphasise individualised care and understand that certain appointments may require additional time and attention. Whether it’s touch sensitivity, wheelchair assistance, or other unique needs, we are well-equipped to provide support.
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!