What is Sports Podiatry?
Sports podiatry is a dedicated branch of podiatry that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating foot and lower limb conditions caused by physical activity. By addressing the unique demands of different sports, our sports podiatrists work to relieve pain and get you back to your chosen activity as quickly as possible. Beyond immediate relief, we also focus on recovery and correcting biomechanical issues to prevent future injuries. Whether you’re a professional athlete or someone who enjoys staying active, our evidence-based treatments and advanced techniques support your recovery and help you perform at your best.
How Can Sports Podiatry Help You?
Sports podiatry supports the diagnosis and treatment of foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions. Whether caused by injury, repetitive strain, or biomechanical issues, our approach focuses on addressing the underlying cause. Common conditions we treat include:
Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis occurs when the band of tissue along the foot’s sole becomes inflamed due to excessive impact, overuse, or biomechanical imbalances.
Heel and Foot Pain: Heel or foot pain can develop due to high-impact sports, extended periods of activity, or underlying biomechanical imbalances.
Runner’s Knee: Discomfort around the kneecap can result from biomechanical imbalances, poor gait mechanics, or repeated stress on the knee joint.
Ankle Sprains: Ankle sprains occur when ligaments are overstretched or torn, often happening in sports that involve sudden direction changes or movement on uneven surfaces.
Stress Fractures: Stress fractures are small cracks in the bones of the feet or lower legs, often resulting from repetitive impact, excessive training, or overuse.
Achilles Tendonitis: Inflammation of the Achilles tendon can result in stiffness and discomfort, particularly when walking, running, or engaging in physical activity.
Shin Splints: Pain along the shinbone, commonly known as shin splints, is typically caused by excessive running, poor footwear choices, or overuse.
Turf Toe: Big toe joint pain often stems from trauma, excessive strain, or arthritis, causing discomfort and limiting movement.
Why Foot and Leg Pain Centre?
Qualified Sports Podiatrist
With more than 30 years of clinical experience, Dr Angus Chard PhD is a Certified Sports Podiatrist and a Fellow of Sports Exercise Podiatry Australia (FSEPA). His expertise in Sports Podiatry is further recognised through his role as an Honorary Associate at The University of Sydney.
Evidence Based Approach
Passionate about evidence-based care, Foot and Leg Pain Centre offers treatments backed by clinical studies and up-to-date research to help you perform at your best—whether in sports or daily activities! Dr. Chard played a key role as a founding member of The University of Sydney's "Talent Identification of Elite Adolescent Athletes" research team.
Experienced Team
Our team isn’t just made up of experienced podiatrists—they’re also athletes who understand firsthand how foot and leg pain affects performance. With this insight, they are dedicated to providing fast and effective relief while helping you recover and stay active.
A Note for Referrals
For practitioners seeking to keep their patients active and injury-free, we offer expert support. Our evidence-based treatments target foot, ankle, and lower limb injuries, with a strong emphasis on helping athletes and active individuals perform at their peak. Whether it’s managing chronic conditions, addressing sports injuries, or implementing preventative strategies, our approach is guided by the latest research. We also provide falls risk identification and ankle instability risk profiling, complemented by comprehensive rehabilitation programs.
We gladly accept referrals from healthcare professionals looking to provide their patients with expert foot and lower limb care. Our team works collaboratively to ensure patients receive well-rounded treatment and are happy to accommodate Enhanced Primary Care Plan arrangements. Reach out today to explore how we can support your patients.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Your Sports Podiatry Questions Answered
No matter if you’re a forefoot, midfoot, or rearfoot striker, or struggling to choose between minimalist, maximalist, or motion control running shoes, our podiatrists are here to help. We’ll break down the science behind these options and refine your running technique with small adjustments to improve your efficiency.
Sports podiatry caters to individuals of all fitness levels, from high-performance athletes to everyday exercisers. If pain, injuries, or movement issues are affecting your activity, our expert care can help.
Seeing a sports podiatrist before an injury occurs can help identify evidence-based risk factors and implement proactive prevention strategies. If you’re dealing with persistent foot, ankle, lower limb, or lower back pain, recurring injuries, or discomfort during or after activity, it’s time to seek expert care.
Wearing the right footwear is essential for injury prevention and performance enhancement. Our podiatrists offer personalised guidance to help you choose the best shoes for your sport, foot type, and biomechanics.
Sports podiatrists employ various techniques to diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries. These may include biomechanical assessments, gait analysis, running technique coaching, custom orthotics, footwear guidance, strength and conditioning exercises, taping, dry needling, and shockwave therapy. The treatment approach is tailored to the individual’s needs and activity level.
General podiatry focuses on foot health, including skin and nail care, while sports podiatry takes a proactive, performance-based approach to treating and preventing injuries. It emphasises early intervention and rehabilitation, helping athletes and active individuals recover efficiently and enhance movement.
Recovery times depend on the nature and severity of the injury. In most cases, we can offload the affected area during your consultation, allowing you to continue training or playing. Your podiatrist will develop a personalised treatment plan to ensure a safe and efficient return to activity.
Helping You Stay on Your Feet – Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Strong, healthy feet are essential for maintaining an active lifestyle. Our sports podiatry team focuses on identifying, managing, and preventing foot and lower limb conditions related to physical activity. With an evidence-based approach, we help support recovery, improve movement, and minimise injury risks 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. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards better foot health.