Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Leading Children's Podiatrists Galston
Supporting tiny feet on their journey
Paediatric Podiatrist
Is your child frequently complaining about sore feet or legs?
As the owner and Certified Sports Podiatrist at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre near Galston, 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 Galston
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, 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.
Ways We Can Help
Flat Feet
Flat feet are frequently seen in young children after 18 months and generally resolve on their own. In certain cases, though, they may persist and cause long-term issues. Conducting an early assessment is vital, much like routine eye or dental checks, to detect and manage conditions early. Post-assessment, children can be monitored to ensure they grow out of any potential problems.
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
Although toe walking is normal in toddlers, persistent cases beyond age 4 can indicate conditions such as tight muscles or neurological problems. If untreated, it may cause knee, back, or joint pain. Early assessment can help identify the cause, prevent future issues, and promote healthy movement.
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
Although leg aches are common during growth spurts, prolonged pain exceeding two months is considered abnormal. When addressed as muscle overuse syndromes, these pains can often be resolved. The belief that growing pains are a normal part of development is outdated and unsupported by current research.
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
Sydney's Trusted Children's Podiatrist
A toddler’s growing legs and feet experience many changes. Routine monitoring and measurements are key to identifying concerns early and providing appropriate care. Early detection is essential for healthy legs in adulthood — take steps to safeguard your child’s future well-being.
1-2 years
We carefully observe your baby’s journey to becoming a toddler, assessing their foot structure and development. By closely monitoring milestones such as crawling and standing, we can address any issues early.
2-3 years
During this time, we assess your toddler’s early walking, posture, and balance, identifying issues such as excessively flat feet. With expert advice, we help foster healthy movement as your child explores and grows.
4-6 years
As activity levels increase, we monitor for common foot concerns, such as flat feet, in-toeing, or toe walking, and address any clumsiness. This ensures your child’s feet develop correctly, allowing them to stay active with confidence.
Paediatric Assessment
Support your child’s growing feet – book their podiatry appointment now.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Encouraging healthy growth for your child
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.
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
Tailored to your child’s unique requirements, our treatments focus on supporting healthy foot development and addressing any discomfort effectively.
Working Towards Your Outcomes
We aim to support your child in achieving optimal outcomes, helping them walk, run, and play with healthier feet and greater confidence while staying active and joyful.
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.
Committed to Caring
Our team at Foot and Leg Pain Centre is passionate about helping individuals, from children to adults, achieve their goals while reducing pain and discomfort.
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
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.
3D printed custom orthotics may be helpful for some children, whereas others might need regular monitoring, footwear recommendations, strengthening exercises, posture and biomechanical assessments, manual rehabilitation, or technique corrections for walking and running.
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 Galston today.
Meet The Team
Michelle Cuthbert
Michelle Cuthbert, a podiatrist with more than 20 years of experience, has a passion for children's foot health. As an avid runner, she understands the value of early intervention and is committed to helping children thrive through personalised care. As a mother of two, her dedication to young patients shines.
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 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.
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.
Flat-footed children often experience quicker fatigue during activities and more pathological movements in their knees and ankles. Arch maturity occurs by age eight, but 39% of adolescents with flat feet may suffer knee pain, and 35% could develop hip or lower back pain. Since adult-like walking develops by age four, addressing abnormal foot positions early is crucial to prevent issues like toe-walking or pigeon-toeing in later life.
Starting assessments early is always best. During the initial visit, your child’s feet and legs will be carefully measured and evaluated with a biomechanical assessment and gait analysis. Accurate measurements allow us to monitor their growth over time. Foot and leg issues can occur at any age, so early attention from a knowledgeable professional is vital.
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.
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.
Ensuring children’s shoes are comfortable, with enough length, width, and toe room, is vital. Evidence strongly supports barefoot activity for healthier foot development, as the ground’s sensory feedback engages muscles. Even minimalist supportive shoes, however flexible, may interfere with this natural process.
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. Secure your child’s appointment today!