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Foot and Leg Pain Centre

Leading Children's Podiatrists Hornsby

Nurturing little feet with every step

Paediatric Podiatrist

Are sore feet or legs a recurring issue for your child?

As the owner and Certified Sports Podiatrist at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre near Hornsby, 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 Hornsby

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. 

Service dog in Paediatric Podiatry near Hornsby

Foot and Leg Pain Centre

How We Support You

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

Pigeon toes, medically known as intoe walking, are a common developmental phase in young children that generally resolves by age 4. If left unchecked beyond this age, it may lead to instability, pain, or changes in movement. Early care is key to supporting proper growth and preventing long-term issues.

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, 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

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

Excessively flat feet can sometimes be caused by a vertically aligned talus, known as talipes calcaneovalgus. While many cases resolve naturally, some persist, resulting in flat feet that can affect children, teens, and adults. This may lead to weakened foot strength and compensatory issues. Early detection ensures children can reach key milestones such as standing, walking, and running.

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

During this period, we monitor your baby’s transition into toddlerhood, keeping a close eye on their foot structure and development. We ensure healthy growth as they begin crawling, standing, and walking, addressing any concerns promptly.

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

Guiding your child’s journey to growth

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

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

Our treatments are personalised for your child, emphasising targeted approaches to promote proper foot development and ease any pain they may be experiencing.

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

Podiatry Team

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.

Paediatric Podiatry

Dedicated to Helping

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.

Paediatric Podiatry care

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

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. 

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

Dr Angus Chard PhD, Certified Sports Podiatrist and Founder of our centre, brings over 32 years of experience, dedicated to providing young patients with a blend of evidence-driven and effective care. 

Healthy feet mean happy kids – schedule an appointment with Dr Angus Chard PhD or one of our skilled podiatrists near Hornsby today. 

Meet The Team

Michelle Cuthbert

Michelle Cuthbert brings 20+ years of podiatry experience and a strong focus on children’s foot care. As a runner, she appreciates the need for early intervention and, as a mother of two, is deeply committed to helping children flourish through personalised treatment.

Thomas Shannon

As a podiatrist and professional athlete, Thomas Shannon specialises in paediatric lower limb care. His expertise in musculoskeletal strength and conditioning, combined with his elite athletic background, allows him to deliver comprehensive treatment. Thomas has represented Australia in both hammer throw and Olympic weightlifting.

Foot And Leg Pain Centre

Book Now

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. 

Some activity-related aches in children are normal, but persistent pain in the legs and feet isn’t. Growing pains that linger can often be resolved by pinpointing and treating the 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. 

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. 

Comfortable footwear for children must have the right length, width, and sufficient toe space. Studies confirm that barefoot movement supports stronger, healthier feet. Direct sensory input from the ground helps activate muscle function for development, but even flexible minimalist shoes can hinder this natural feedback. 

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. 

Under the leadership of Dr Angus Chard PhD, the Foot and Leg Pain Centre team brings extensive experience and strong ties with shoe stores and manufacturers to guide you through the ever-changing world of footwear choices. Contact our podiatrists today for personalised advice for your child’s foot concerns. 

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 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