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 near Richmond 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.
Which Foot and Lower Limb Issues Can Sports Podiatry Address?
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: Irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia, often triggered by repetitive strain, excessive use, or poor foot alignment, can cause significant foot pain.
Heel and Foot Pain: High-impact movements, extended activity levels, or biomechanical misalignments can contribute to discomfort and pain in the heel or foot.
Runner’s Knee: Pain around the kneecap is often caused by improper gait patterns or excessive stress on the knee joint, leading to discomfort and reduced mobility.
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: 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: Discomfort in the big toe joint is commonly caused by joint sprains, trauma, or arthritis, leading to stiffness and pain during movement.
Why Foot and Leg Pain Centre?
Qualified Sports Podiatrist
A Certified Sports Podiatrist near Richmond 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
At Foot and Leg Pain Centre, our treatments are grounded in science, drawing on extensive clinical research to help you recover and excel in both sport and daily life. Dr. Chard was a founding member of The University of Sydney's "Talent Identification of Elite Adolescent Athletes" project, demonstrating his dedication to advancing sports performance research.
Experienced Team
Our podiatrists bring both professional expertise and personal athletic experience, giving them a unique perspective on treating foot and leg pain. They focus on fast, effective relief while ensuring you stay on the field throughout your recovery.
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 welcome referrals from healthcare professionals who recognise the value of our expertise for their patients. Our collaborative approach ensures that every patient receives comprehensive care, and we’re happy to work within Enhanced Primary Care Plan arrangements. Contact us today to learn how we can assist with your patients’ recovery and performance.
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 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.
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.
Footwear choice is a crucial factor in injury prevention and sports performance. Our podiatrists provide expert guidance to help you find the ideal shoes for your foot type, biomechanics, and specific sporting activities.
A range of techniques is used by sports podiatrists to assess, treat, and prevent injuries. These include biomechanical evaluations, gait analysis, running technique refinement, custom orthotics, footwear advice, strength and conditioning, taping, dry needling, and shockwave therapy. The approach is tailored to each person’s specific needs.
While general podiatry covers overall foot health, including nail and skin conditions, sports podiatry specialises in early assessment and treatment to resolve symptoms quickly, allowing you to return to your sport as soon as possible. It takes a performance-driven approach, focusing on injury recovery, movement optimisation, and injury prevention for athletes and active individuals.
Healing times differ depending on the injury’s severity, but we aim to offload the area during your consultation so you can keep training or playing. Your podiatrist will craft a tailored treatment plan to promote recovery and minimise downtime.
Keep Moving with Foot and Leg Pain Centre
Your feet play a vital role in keeping you active and performing at your best. Our sports podiatry services are designed to assess, treat, and prevent foot and lower limb issues linked to physical activity. By using evidence-based treatments, we enhance recovery, improve mobility, and reduce injury risks to keep you in top form.
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 areas for sports podiatry. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards better foot health.