What we do as podiatrists, how we work and all the ways we help our patients. Here are all your common questions about podiatry, foot health and lower limb care answered.
When it comes to foot health, most people don’t think too much about it - until something goes wrong. Suddenly, an aching heel, a painful ingrown toenail, or a swollen ankle can make every step a struggle. That’s where podiatrists come in.
Podiatrists are the go-to allied health professionals for diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower limbs. From everyday issues like corns and calluses to more complex problems such as sports injuries, arthritis, and diabetic foot complications, podiatrists play a vital role in keeping people pain-free, mobile, and active throughout their lifetime.
As many people don’t fully understand what podiatrists do or how we can help, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help answer many of the frequently asked questions we get about podiatry, podiatrists, and foot health. If we’ve missed anything from this list, you can always get in touch by phone or email and ask. We’re always happy to help.
Podiatry is a specialised allied health field dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower extremities (the legs). Podiatrists are degree-qualified health professionals who manage a wide range of issues - from common ailments like shin splints, toe pain and heel pain to more complex conditions such as fractures and foot drop.
Our expertise encompasses various treatments, including prescribing custom foot orthotics (insoles), using manual therapies like foot mobilisation, shockwave or MLS laser for pain relief, performing minor surgical procedures like ingrown toenail surgery or verruca removal, providing guidance on good footwear, and more.
As podiatrists, we play a crucial role in helping people improve and maintain their mobility and overall health, especially for those with chronic conditions like diabetes that can lead to serious foot problems (like foot ulcers) if they’re not properly managed.
GPs are brilliant at addressing a broad range of health issues but typically do not offer the targeted therapies and comprehensive treatment plans for foot and ankle conditions like we do as podiatrists. We actually have fantastic relationships with our local doctors and see many referrals from them for patients with lower limb problems.
Physiotherapists focus on restoring movement and function across the whole body. As podiatrists, we undergo extensive education and training specifically centered on the feet and legs, which enables us to provide very specific focused care to diagnose and treat foot and ankle conditions, perform minor surgeries, prescribe custom foot orthotics and more.
We undertake extensive university education and clinical training to ensure we can effectively manage a person’s foot, ankle and lower leg health. Most podiatrists complete a four year Honours degree, with many completing postgraduate research too.
Being a registered health professional in Australia also means that we have strict professional development requirements, so undertake additional training and pursue special areas of interest within podiatry on a regular basis. We also adhere to very strict health and safety requirements as part of our annual practicing certificates which must be renewed every year.
We treat a wide range of foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions - from everyday aches and pains to complex neurological conditions requiring long-term management. One of the most common reasons people visit a podiatrist is pain - whether it’s in the heel, arch, toes, or ankles. Conditions like plantar fasciitis (a sharp pain in the heel caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament) or Achilles tendinopathy (pain at the back of the heel due to overuse of the Achilles tendon) are frequent complaints, particularly among those who are on their feet all day or engage in sports and running.
Podiatrists also specialise in biomechanics and gait analysis, helping to identify alignment issues that may be contributing to knee, hip, or back pain. Many foot conditions, such as flat feet, high arches, and bunions, can lead to problems higher up in the body, and correcting foot posture with custom orthotics, footwear adjustments, and strengthening exercises can significantly reduce discomfort and improve mobility.
For people with diabetes, arthritis and circulatory issues, podiatrists play a vital role in helping to prevent complications. Diabetes, in particular, can lead to nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor circulation, increasing the risk of foot ulcers and infections that, if untreated, could lead to amputation. Regular podiatry check-ups help monitor foot health, detect early warning signs, and provide treatments that prevent serious complications before they start.
Sports injuries and stress fractures are also a major area of podiatric care. Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior, or just someone who has rolled their ankle on an uneven surface, podiatrists diagnose and treat conditions like sprained ankles, shin splints, and ligament injuries. We also often work closely with physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons to develop rehabilitation plans that ensure a full and safe recovery.
Beyond pain and injury, podiatrists also manage skin and nail conditions, such as ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, and fungal nail infections. These conditions might seem minor, but they can become incredibly painful and difficult to manage without professional care.
While we accept referrals from GPs, specialists and other allied health professionals, you can schedule an appointment with a podiatrist directly without a referral.
Your first visit to a podiatrist is all about getting to the root of your foot or lower limb issue. Whether you’re experiencing new pain, discomfort, or a long-standing problem that hasn’t been resolved, we take the time to assess, diagnose, and create a personalised treatment plan.
At the start of the appointment, we’ll go through your medical history, including any previous injuries, surgeries, or chronic conditions like diabetes or arthritis. We’ll also ask about your symptoms: when they started, what makes them worse or better, and how they’re affecting your daily life. If your issue is related to sports, work, or lifestyle habits, we’ll take that into account as well.
Next, we’ll conduct a physical examination of your feet and lower limbs. This might involve checking your foot structure, joint mobility, and muscle strength, as well as looking for any signs of swelling, inflammation, or skin and nail conditions. We’ll perform a treadmill gait analysis, where we observe how you walk or run to identify any biomechanical issues contributing to your discomfort. We can show you this via video.
Depending on your condition, we’ll start treatment on the same day. This could include fixing an ingrown toenail, relieving pressure from a painful corn, strapping the foot for support, or making footwear modifications. For more complex issues, we may recommend imaging tests like X-rays or ultrasounds and discuss long-term treatment options such as custom orthotics, rehabilitation exercises, or therapies like shockwave or laser.
By the end of your appointment, you’ll have a clear understanding of what’s causing your issue and the next steps to take toward relief and recovery.
Diagnosing foot and lower limb problems isn’t just about looking at the area that hurts - it’s about understanding the bigger picture. Many foot issues are connected to the way we walk, stand, or distribute weight, so we take a holistic approach to identifying the cause. We use all the information we gather in your appointment with us (detailed above) to help both confirm your diagnosis as well as rule out any other problems or injuries that may have occurred at the same time. If your symptoms may be attributed to several problems and conditions, we may send you for medical imaging (ultrasound, x-ray or MRI) to confirm your diagnosis and understand the extent of it.
Podiatrists in Australia are not authorised to prescribe medications, although we can and do perform minor surgeries. With this said, podiatrists can undergo further training and advance their scope in order to attain prescribing rights, as well as become a podiatric surgeon.
Podiatrists are allied health professionals who diagnose and treat a wide range of foot, ankle and lower leg problems and injuries using largely non-surgical therapies (only minor surgical procedures for things like ingrown toenail correction).
An orthopaedic surgeon is a medical doctor trained in lower limb surgery of the bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles throughout the body, including the feet and ankles. They perform major surgeries such as joint replacements, fracture repairs, and complex reconstructions for severe injuries and degenerative conditions.
The two professions often work together, especially for patients recovering from foot or ankle surgery. While the orthopaedic surgeon performs the operation, the podiatrist guides post-surgical rehabilitation, improves biomechanics, and helps prevent future complications. This way the patient gets the best care and outcomes from working closely with both professions.
How often you see a podiatrist depends on your foot health, medical history, lifestyle and what the condition or problem is. Some people only need a single visit for an acute issue like a one-off ingrown toenail, while others, especially those with chronic conditions like diabetes, need regular check-ups to monitor and prevent complications. We see these patients every 4-10 weeks, depending on how quickly the issue is returning.
On the other hand, if you have a musculoskeletal injury, your podiatrist will be able to give you a rough time frame for recovery based on the severity and nature of your injury.
While podiatrists are primarily foot specialists, we also treat conditions that affect the ankles, lower legs, and even the knees and sometimes hips - because everything is connected. The way your feet move impacts the entire kinetic chain, which means that foot problems can lead to pain higher up in the body.
For example, flat feet or high arches can alter your walking pattern and put extra stress on the knees, hips, and lower back, leading to discomfort and even long-term wear-and-tear. Conditions like shin splints and Achilles tendonitis often stem from biomechanical imbalances in the feet and ankles, which podiatrists can correct with orthotics, targeted exercises, and footwear adjustments.
If your knee pain is caused by improper foot mechanics, like excessive pronation (rolling inwards) or supination (rolling outwards), correcting these imbalances with orthotics or gait retraining can significantly reduce strain on the knees and improve overall function.
So while podiatrists don’t directly treat all knee or hip issues, we do play an important role in addressing lower limb mechanics to prevent pain from traveling up the body.
Orthotics are custom-designed shoe inserts (insoles) that adjust how the feet sit and move. They also support, align, and cushion the feet. They are used to correct biomechanical issues, redistribute pressure, and relieve pain caused by structural or functional problems in the feet and lower limbs.
Many people assume that only athletes or people with major foot deformities need orthotics, but that’s not the case. If you experience chronic foot pain, knee discomfort, or even lower back issues that seem to worsen with prolonged standing or activity, orthotics may help by providing better foot support and alignment. We even use orthotics in children with specific issues such as an in-toeing gait.
Some common reasons you might benefit from orthotics include:
A podiatrist will assess your foot structure, gait, and pressure distribution to determine whether orthotics would be beneficial. If needed,
we’ll create a fully customised orthotic that fits your foot shape and movement patterns perfectly - unlike store-bought insoles,
which provide generic cushioning but no personalised correction.
We hope these questions have helped! We’ve received many more questions about podiatry and podiatrists that we’ll include in a new article - coming next. These include:
Remember, your feet carry you everywhere, so taking care of them is just as important as taking care of the rest of your body. Whether
you’re dealing with pain, mobility concerns, or just want to prevent future issues, our podiatrists across our Brisbane CBD and
Newmarket clinics are here to help.
If you need professional, supportive foot care, book an appointment with our podiatrists and take the first step toward healthier, pain-free feet by calling us on (07) 3356 3579 or booking online here.
| Monday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Tuesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Wednesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Thursday |
7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Friday | TEMP CLOSED |
| Saturday | CLOSED |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Ground Floor, 344 Queen Street,
Brisbane City QLD 4000
| Monday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Tuesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Wednesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Thursday |
7:40am - 6:30pm |
| Friday | 7:40am - 5:00pm |
| Saturday | 7:40am - 4:30pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Newmarket Village, 114/400 Newmarket Rd, Newmarket QLD 4051
