Ankle and foot injuries
Ankle and foot injuries often look simple and behave anything but. Specialist assessment narrows the diagnosis, identifies what has been missed, and builds the rehabilitation plan that returns you to walking, running, and your sport.
Ankle and foot problems range from acute sprains to overuse conditions such as Achilles tendinopathy, plantar heel pain, and stress fractures. An accurate diagnosis matters, because it shapes the rehabilitation most likely to help. Specialist sport and exercise medicine assessment clarifies what is going on and builds a plan suited to your injury and your goals.
Common ankle and foot problems we see
Ankle sprains and instability
Sprains, and the ongoing instability that follows incomplete rehab.
Read more AchillesAchilles tendon problems
Achilles pain and tendinopathy in runners and active people.
Read more HeelPlantar heel pain
Heel pain that does not settle on rest alone.
Read more Bone stressFoot stress fractures
Bone stress in the foot, often hiding as soft-tissue pain.
Read more
Ankle sprains and instability
The most common sports injury, and one of the most poorly rehabilitated. Specialist assessment confirms the grade, identifies missed injuries (high ankle sprains, peroneal tendon injuries, osteochondral lesions, anterior process of calcaneus fractures), and structures the rehabilitation.
Achilles tendon problems
Achilles tendinopathy (mid-portion or insertional) is a load problem. Structured loading is the cornerstone. Acute Achilles rupture is a different problem and may be managed surgically or non-surgically depending on circumstances; both pathways now have reasonable evidence in selected patients. See tendinopathy and tendon injuries.
Plantar heel pain
Plantar fasciitis is the common name for what is often a more nuanced picture: plantar fascia, surrounding fat pad, intrinsic foot muscles, calf complex, and sometimes nerve contributions all play roles. Treatment is structured loading and footwear-based interventions, with selected injection options for refractory cases.
Foot stress fractures
Metatarsal stress fractures and navicular stress fractures present in runners, dancers, and field athletes. They can be missed on early X-rays and usually need MRI for confirmation. The management is unforgiving: load reduction, then graded reintroduction, with attention to the underlying drivers (training error, energy availability, biomechanics). See overuse and bone stress injuries.
Midfoot and forefoot pain
Lisfranc injuries (often missed in mild presentations), Morton's neuroma, sesamoiditis, hallux rigidus, turf toe, and several others share the small space of the front of the foot. Specialist assessment confirms the diagnosis.
Common questions
Why is my ankle still unstable months after a sprain?
Assessment and clarity of diagnosis can help identify the barriers to recovery.
Do I need orthotics?
Sometimes. Orthotics are one tool among several. The consultation discusses whether they are likely to help your specific picture.
Will I need surgery for my Achilles rupture?
There are both surgical and non-surgical pathways. The decision depends on your circumstances, sport, and goals.
