Podiatry Services in Canberra
Podiatry is about much more than just feet. Podiatrists assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent conditions affecting the feet, ankles and lower limbs. Our aim is to improve comfort, movement and function, helping you stay active and do the things that matter to you.
From skin and nails to muscles and joints
The lower limbs include everything from the hips down, but podiatrists may also look at the way the whole body moves to better understand why a problem is occurring further down. Podiatrists see people of all ages, from young children through to older adults. We help with short-term concerns, such as a bruised heel or sporting injury, as well as ongoing conditions such as diabetes.
Podiatry covers a broad range of structures, including the skin, toenails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and blood vessels.
What is a podiatrist?
Podiatrists are allied health professionals who specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and management of foot, ankle and lower-limb conditions. They are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and complete an approved university degree in podiatry.
Their training covers areas such as biomechanics, musculoskeletal conditions, skin and nail care, neurological and vascular assessment, footwear and orthotic therapy. Podiatrists working in Australia may have trained locally or completed recognised podiatry qualifications overseas.
Podiatrists help improve pain, everyday movement and lower limb function
What conditions do Podiatrists treat?
Podiatrists assess and manage a wide range of conditions affecting the feet, ankles and lower limbs, including concerns involving the skin, toenails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and blood vessels. Some of the conditions we commonly see include:
Thick, hard-to-cut or misshapen toenails
Ingrown toenails
Fungal or discoloured toenails
Painful, damaged, loose or lifting toenails
Dry, cracked heels and skin
Calluses and corns
Tinea and other fungal skin infections
Warts, plantar warts and verrucae
Blisters
Chilblains
Skin irritation and dermatitis
Excessive sweating of the feet
Pressure areas and skin breakdown
Minor cuts, wounds and slow-healing areas
Heel pain
Flatfeet/rolling in
Toe walking
Intoeing/pigeon toed
Outtoeing/penguin walk
A limp when walking and running
Frequency tripping, balance issues and/or general clumsiness
Delayed walking
Foot, ankle, leg, knee, thigh pain
Generalised hypermobility
Reoccurring ankle rolls
Growing pains
Ingrown toenails
Curly or claw toes
Bunions
Knocked knees
Bowed leg
Warts
Limb length difference (one leg longer than the other)
Heel pain conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, heel spurs
Plantar fasciitis / plantar fascia tears / plantar fasciopathy / plantar fasciosis
Ankle sprains
Chronic ankle instability
Achilles tendonitis / achilles tendinopathy / achilles tendinosis
Arch pain
Forefoot ‘metatarsalgia’ pain including Morton’s neuroma, neuritis, plantar plate dysfunction and metatarsal stress fractures
Pain associated with flat feet and generalised hypermobiltiy
Shin pain including medial tibial stress syndrome, muscle-tendon injuries or strains
Big toe joint conditions including bunions, turf toe, hallux limitus
Sesamoid injuries
Toe pain from hammer toe, curly toes, claw toe, cross over toe
Acute and overuse tendon injuries
Bone fractures, bone stress fractures and bone stress reactions
Arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthropathies
Shin splints
Calf pain due to tears and strains
Muscle soreness
Limb length difference (one leg longer than the other)
Plantar fasciitis and other causes of heel pain
Arch pain
Achilles tendinopathy and other Achilles injuries
Trauma to the toes and toenails
Running-related pain and concerns with running technique
Forefoot pain, including metatarsalgia and plantar plate injuries
Muscle strains and tendon injuries
Ankle sprains and rolled ankles
Calf strains and tears
Shin splints
Stress fractures and bone stress injuries
Joint pain in the foot, ankle and lower limb
Knee pain, including patellofemoral pain
Overuse injuries affecting muscles, tendons and bones
Muscle fatigue and exercise-related lower-limb pain
Numbness, tingling or pins and needles during activity
Pain associated with bunions and toe deformities
Diabetes foot care and diabetic foot assessments
Walking and running gait analysis
Biomechanical and lower-limb assessments
Falls risk, balance and mobility assessments
Footwear assessments and advice
Nerve and circulation assessments
Arthritis management, including strategies to reduce pressure on painful joints
Orthotic therapy, including reviews of existing orthotics
Assessment of persistent or recurring foot and lower-limb pain
Assessment of strength, joint movement, balance and coordination
Pressure analysis to identify areas of increased or uneven loading
Support for chronic health conditions that may affect the feet and lower limbs