What is Sports Podiatry?
Sports podiatry is a specialised field of podiatry focused on the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of foot and lower limb conditions associated with specific physical activities. By understanding and addressing the unique demands that specific sports and activities place on the body, sports podiatrists specialise in getting you pain free and back to your sport or activity in the fastest possible time. In addition to immediate pain relief, we will assist your recovery from injury and address underlying biomechanical issues to prevent further complications. Whether you’re an elite athlete or just someone who enjoys staying active, our sports podiatrists deliver evidence-based treatments and advanced techniques to support your accelerated recovery and get you back to performing your best.
What Conditions Can Sports Podiatry Help With?
Sports podiatry may assist with a wide range of conditions affecting the feet, ankles and lower limbs. Whether your concerns are caused by injury, overuse or biomechanical imbalances. Sports podiatry aims to identify and address the underlying cause. Our podiatrists commonly work with conditions such as:
Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue along the bottom of the foot, often caused by repetitive impact, overuse, or poor foot mechanics
Heel and Foot Pain: Pain in the heel or foot can result from high-impact sports, prolonged activity, or biomechanical issues.
Runner’s Knee: Pain around the kneecap, often due to improper gait or excessive stress on the knee joint.
Ankle Sprains: Occurring when ligaments are stretched or toe. Ankle sprains are common in sports involving quick movements on uneven surfaces or sudden direction changes
Stress Fractures: Small cracks in the bones of the feet or lower legs caused by repetitive impact or overtraining.
Achilles Tendonitis: Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, leading to stiffness and pain, particularly during movement.
Shin Splints: Pain along the shinbone, often resulting from overuse, improper footwear, or excessive running on hard surfaces.
Turf Toe: Pain in and around the big ball joint of the foot, often resulting from spraining the joint, direct trauma and or arthritis.
Why Foot and Leg Pain Centre?
Qualified Sports Podiatrist
Dr Angus Chard PhD is a Certified Sports Podiatrist. These qualifications, combined with his Fellowship of Sports Exercise Podiatry Australia (FSEPA), distinguish him from his peers as an expert in the field of Sports Podiatry. Additionally, he is an Honorary Associate of The University of Sydney, with over 30 years clinical experience.
Evidence Based Approach
At Foot and Leg Pain Centre we're passionate about delivering evidence backed treatments based on extensive clinical study and up to date research to help you get back to your best - in sport and in daily life! Dr Chard was a founding member of The University of Sydney's team investigating "Talent identification of elite adolescent athletes".
Experienced Team
Our team are not only experienced podiatrists, they're also athletes themselves, giving them a strong understanding of the impact foot and leg pain can have on your performance and a commitment to delivering fast and effective relief to keep you on the field while rehabilitating your condition.
A Note for Referrals
If you are a practitioner looking to help your patients stay active, we can help. Our team offer evidence-based treatments for foot, ankle, and lower limb injuries, with a focus on keeping athletes and active individuals performing at their best. Whether it’s managing chronic pain, resolving sports injuries, or preventing future issues, we provide tailored care informed by the latest research and techniques. Additionally, we offer evidence based “Falls risk identification “and Risk profiling for ankle sprains and instability “together with rehabilitation programs.
We welcome referrals from healthcare professionals who believe their patients would benefit from our expertise. Our collaborative approach ensures that your patients receive comprehensive care, and we’re happy to work within Enhanced Primary Care Plan arrangements. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your patients’ recovery and performance.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Your Sports Podiatry Questions Answered
Whether you are a forefoot, midfoot or rearfoot striker or confused by the variety of footwear choices such as minimalist/ barefoot, maximalist or motion control running shoes our experienced podiatrists can discuss the evidence associated with these topics and coach your running technique with minor changes to enhance your performance.
Sports podiatry is suitable for people of all activity levels, from professional athletes to recreational exercisers. It’s particularly helpful for anyone experiencing pain, injuries, or movement issues during or after activity.
You should consider seeing a sports podiatrist prior to having an injury to identify potential evidence-based risk factors and design proactive prevention strategies. Alternatively, if you experience persistent foot, ankle, or lower limb or lower back pain, recurring injuries, or discomfort during or after physical activity.
The right footwear is critical in preventing injuries and improving performance. Our podiatrists can provide tailored on selecting the right shoes for your sport, foot type, and biomechanics.
Sports podiatrists use a range of techniques to diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries. These may include biomechanical assessments, gait analysis, various running techniques and coaching, custom orthotics, footwear recommendations, strength and conditioning exercises, taping, dry needling, and shockwave therapy. The approach depends on the individual’s needs and activity level.
While general podiatry focuses on overall foot health, including nail and skin conditions, sports podiatry focuses early assessment and treatment to resolve your symptoms for you to return to your sporting activity as quickly as possible. It takes a performance-focused approach, helping athletes and active individuals recover from injuries, optimise movement, and prevent future problems.
Recovery times vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. We are usually able to unload the injury during the consultation to allow you to not miss a training or a game. Your podiatrist will create a personalised treatment plan to support your recovery and get you back to activity as quickly and safely as possible.
Support Your Active Lifestyle with Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Maintaining healthy feet is essential for staying active and performing at your best. Our sports podiatry services focus on assessing, managing, and preventing foot and lower limb concerns associated with physical activity. Using evidence-based care, we aim to support recovery, enhance movement, and reduce the risk of injury to keep you performing at your best.
Serving Dural, NSW, and its surrounding suburbs, the Foot and Leg Pain Centre regularly treats 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. Book an appointment with us today to get started.