Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment

Foot and ankle pain is one of the most common reasons people seek podiatry care. It can affect your ability to walk, work, exercise, and perform everyday tasks. At Adelaide Hills Podiatry, we understand how frustrating and limiting foot and ankle pain can be. Our goal is to find the underlying cause and provide you with lasting relief through accurate diagnosis and evidence-based treatment.

​

Common Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain

Pain can arise from bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or soft tissue structures. Some of the most common causes we see include:

​

• Plantar fasciopathy (commonly called plantar fasciitis): degeneration of the tissue under the heel

• Achilles tendinopathy: pain and thickening at the back of the heel

• Heel pain and fat pad atrophy: thinning of the protective cushioning under the heel

• Ankle sprains and ongoing instability or ligament damage

• Tibialis posterior dysfunction: inner ankle and arch pain due to tendon overload

• Bunions, hammertoes, and forefoot pain from joint or soft tissue changes

• Arthritis especially in the midfoot or ankle joint

• Flat feet or high arches leading to altered load patterns

• Nerve entrapments like tarsal tunnel syndrome or Baxter’s nerve irritation

• Neuromas (e.g. Morton’s neuroma): a thickened, irritated nerve causing burning or tingling in the ball of the foot

• Fractures or stress fractures, especially in runners or other active people

 

Our Assessment Process

Your appointment will include a thorough clinical assessment to determine the cause of your pain. This typically includes:

​

• A detailed history of your symptoms, activities, and footwear habits

• Visual examination, palpation, and range of motion testing

• Gait analysis to assess how your foot moves while walking

• Functional testing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments

• Point-of-care diagnostic ultrasound to visualise soft tissue structures and screen for inflammation, tears, or stress injuries

• Footwear assessment to check if your current shoes are contributing to the problem

 

We also consider your medical history, including diabetes, arthritis, or past injuries that may be relevant.

​​​

Evidence-Based Treatment Options​

Once we have identified the cause of your foot or ankle pain, we’ll create a tailored management plan that may include:

​

• Stretching and strengthening programmes to address muscle imbalances

• Activity modification to reduce aggravation during recovery

• Footwear advice and recommendations for supportive shoes

• Prefabricated or custom orthotics, if biomechanical support is needed

• Shockwave therapy for persistent tendinopathies or fasciopathy

• Strapping or bracing for support during the healing phase

• Pain management strategies including ice, load management, and footwear padding

• Referral for ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections if appropriate for inflammation or nerve entrapment

• Surgical referral for cases that do not respond to conservative care or require operative intervention

• Referral for imaging (e.g. X-ray or MRI) or to other health professionals if additional input is needed

 

​Our approach is conservative and evidence-based. We aim to avoid over-treatment and will only prescribe orthotics or interventions if they are likely to improve your outcomes. In some cases, simply changing your footwear can resolve the issue.

​

Convenient Care in the Adelaide Hills​

​

• Nairne clinic (10 minutes from Mount Barker)

• Birdwood clinic

• Saturday morning appointments available at Nairne

 

Book Your Appointment

If you're struggling with foot or ankle pain, don’t wait for it to get worse. Early assessment can lead to quicker recovery and help prevent long-term issues.