What is Sports Podiatry?
Sports podiatry is a focused field of podiatry dedicated to diagnosing and treating foot and lower limb conditions caused by sports and exercise. By understanding the demands different activities place on the body, our sports podiatrists provide targeted treatments to relieve pain and promote quick recovery. We go beyond symptom relief to address underlying biomechanical concerns, helping to prevent future injuries. Whether you’re a professional competitor or simply enjoy an active lifestyle, our advanced treatment methods support your recovery and optimise your performance.
What Conditions Does Sports Podiatry Treat?
From injuries to overuse and biomechanical imbalances, sports podiatry provides solutions for a range of foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions. Our podiatrists take a targeted approach to identify and treat the cause of discomfort, commonly managing conditions such as:
Plantar Fasciitis: Overuse, repeated impact, or faulty foot mechanics can lead to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a tissue band that runs along the foot’s underside, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Heel and Foot Pain: Engaging in high-impact sports, prolonged physical activity, or having biomechanical irregularities can lead to pain in the heel or foot.
Runner’s Knee: Excessive strain on the knee joint or misalignment in gait can contribute to pain around the kneecap, affecting movement and function.
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: Repetitive strain or overtraining can lead to stress fractures—tiny cracks in the bones of the feet or lower legs that cause pain and discomfort.
Achilles Tendonitis: Achilles tendonitis develops when the tendon becomes irritated and inflamed, leading to pain and stiffness, often aggravated by movement.
Shin Splints: Shin splints develop due to repetitive strain on the shinbone, often resulting from high-impact activities, improper footwear, or excessive training on hard surfaces.
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
A Certified Sports Podiatrist with a PhD, Dr Angus Chard is also a Fellow of Sports Exercise Podiatry Australia (FSEPA). With more than 30 years of clinical experience and an Honorary Associate role at The University of Sydney, he stands out as a highly regarded authority in Sports Podiatry.
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
If your goal as a practitioner is to help patients stay active, we can assist. Our team specialises in evidence-based treatments for foot, ankle, and lower limb injuries, focusing on keeping athletes and active individuals performing at their best. From injury recovery to chronic pain management and injury prevention, our treatments are backed by the latest research. Additionally, we offer falls risk identification, ankle sprain and instability risk profiling, and targeted rehabilitation programs.
Healthcare professionals are welcome to refer patients who could benefit from our specialised care. We take a collaborative approach, ensuring comprehensive treatment and seamless integration with Enhanced Primary Care Plan arrangements. Get in touch today to discuss how we can support your patients’ recovery and performance.
Foot And Leg Pain Centre
Your Sports Podiatry Questions Answered
Whether you land on your forefoot, midfoot, or rearfoot, or are confused by the range of footwear options available, our expert podiatrists can help. We’ll discuss the latest research and fine-tune your running technique with subtle changes to boost efficiency and performance.
Sports podiatry benefits individuals at all activity levels, from elite athletes to casual exercisers. It’s especially useful for those dealing with pain, injuries, or movement challenges during or after physical activity.
Sports podiatrists can help prevent injuries by identifying risk factors early and designing tailored prevention strategies. If you’re experiencing ongoing pain in your foot, ankle, lower limb, or lower back, or if you frequently suffer from sports-related injuries, it’s worth seeking expert guidance.
Proper footwear plays a key role in reducing injuries and optimising performance. Our podiatrists provide expert advice on selecting shoes that align with your sport, foot structure, and movement patterns.
To diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries, sports podiatrists use a combination of methods, including biomechanical assessments, gait analysis, running coaching, custom orthotics, footwear recommendations, strength training, taping, dry needling, and shockwave therapy. Each treatment plan is customised based on the individual’s sport and activity level.
General podiatry addresses overall foot health, including nail care and skin conditions, whereas sports podiatry is focused on early diagnosis and treatment to help you recover swiftly and get back to your sport. With a performance-based approach, it enhances movement, supports injury recovery, and reduces the risk of future issues.
Recovery is influenced by the type and extent of the injury, but we often implement strategies during your visit to keep you active. Your podiatrist will create a structured treatment plan to help you return to your sport as quickly and safely as possible.
Keep Moving with 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.