At a glance
- What it is
- Assessment and treatment for heel, arch, ankle and leg pain.
- DVA funding
- Covered for Gold Card holders with a D904 referral from their GP. Nothing to pay.
- Where
- Home visits across Sydney, the Illawarra and the Central Coast
- To book
- Call 0493 367 109, or send a message below
Common problems we treat
- Heel pain, including plantar fasciitis (plantar heel pain)
- Arch pain, and pain linked to flat or high-arched feet
- Achilles tendon pain
- Pain in the ball of the foot (metatarsalgia)
- Bunions and toe deformities
- Arthritis and stiff joints in the foot and ankle
- Shin and calf pain related to how you walk
How we assess your pain
We'll ask when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your day. Then we look at your feet, how your joints move, how you walk and the shoes you wear most often. This tells us what's driving the pain, not just where it hurts.
Treatment options
- Advice on footwear and activity
- Padding, strapping and offloading
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Orthotics to support your feet
- Hands-on foot mobilisation therapy
- Dry needling for tight, painful muscles
When to see a podiatrist
- Pain that's lasted more than two weeks
- Sharp heel pain with your first steps in the morning
- Pain that's changing the way you walk
- Swelling, stiffness or a joint that looks different
- Numbness, tingling or burning in your feet
What may help in the meantime
- Wear supportive, well-fitting shoes, even indoors, instead of going barefoot or wearing thongs
- Ease back on the activities that make the pain worse, without stopping moving altogether
- Gentle calf stretches, if they don't increase the pain
- An ice pack wrapped in a cloth for 10 to 15 minutes after a flare-up
Get medical help the same day if you can't put weight on your foot after an injury, or if your calf becomes swollen, red, hot or painful. Calf swelling can be a sign of a blood clot.
Funding
Foot pain and injury management is covered for DVA Gold Card holders with a D904 referral. See how DVA podiatry works. Private patients are welcome.