Best Podiatrist Sydney | Podiatry Clinics for Foot Health
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The best podiatrist depends on what's causing your foot or lower-limb pain and the type of expertise you need. There's no single best podiatrist in Sydney for everyone, just the right match for your specific needs. Some clinics focus on general foot care, while others specialise in complex biomechanics, surgical correction, sports injuries, children's gait or chronic condition management.
Choosing wisely means matching your symptoms and goals to a clinic that treats those issues every day. We’ve written this guide to highlight podiatry practices across Sydney that stand out for specific clinical strengths, helping you identify which may be the best fit for your situation.
The clinics below have been selected because each offers a distinct area of expertise. Whether you're dealing with a long-standing problem or a new concern, understanding what each clinic does best makes it easier to choose the right podiatrist for your needs.
Sydney Heel Pain Clinic
Sydney Heel Pain Clinic is a biomechanical podiatry practice led by sports podiatrist Dr Karl Lockett.
What conditions does the clinic treat?
The clinic treats:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy (mid-portion and insertional)
- Heel spurs
- Bursitis (retrocalcaneal, adventitial, inter metatarsal)
- Sever's disease in children aged 7 to 14
- Plantar fascial tears and ruptures
- Nerve-related heel pain
- Morton's neuroma
- Metatarsalgia
- Bunions
In short, Sydney Heel Pain treats anything painful on the foot relating to muscle and bone. The clinic does not treat skin and nail conditions. Visible problems like ingrown toenails, hammer toe, claw toe or general nail and skin care are not treated as standalone issues.
What makes this clinic different?
Rather than simply managing symptoms, the focus is on identifying where mechanical overload is occurring. Dr Karl then creates conditions for tissue to recover naturally.
This biomechanical, load-based method looks at how your foot handles stress during standing, walking and running, then systematically reduces that stress so healing can occur.
Dr Karl Lockett brings over 20 years of focused experience in treating heel and foot pain. His particular expertise includes:
- Targeted tissue unloading
- Controlled lengthening protocols
- Thorough patient education
Approximately half of each consultation is dedicated to explaining what's driving your symptoms and why specific interventions are recommended.
What treatment options are available?
Treatment approaches are tailored to your assessment findings and may include:
- Custom orthotics – Designed to unload affected tissues. Fabricated in-house within 48 hours using the clinic's own 3D printing equipment.
- 12-month orthotics warranty included
- Shockwave therapy – Condition-specific protocols using the shock wave approach
- Rigid sports taping – Provides immediate relief
- Footwear analysis and guidance – Identifying what's helping or hindering recovery
- Structured lengthening programs – Particularly for tendon conditions
Why do patients choose this clinic?
Many patients choose Sydney Heel Pain Clinic after trying multiple treatments elsewhere without lasting improvement.
Common patterns include:
- Already seen physiotherapists, chiropractors or other podiatrists
- Attempted exercises like calf raises, which can worsen symptoms by increasing tightness and strain
- Looking for an approach that recognises heel pain and Achilles conditions often need less load and more length before strengthening
What about biomechanical assessment?
Understanding how your foot handles load during standing and walking is central to the clinic's approach. A detailed biomechanical assessment identifies where mechanical overload is occurring and what's driving your symptoms.
Even small structural differences between your left and right foot can influence how load passes through the heel and fascia. Custom 3D-printed orthotics are designed around these individual findings, providing targeted unloading that off-the-shelf shoe liners cannot replicate.
Clinic details:
- 4.9-star Google rating from over 220 reviews
- Consulting locations in Sydney CBD, Crows Nest (North Sydney) and Parramatta
- Often the choice for patients who want a focused, evidence-based approach that addresses the mechanical root cause of their foot pain
Sydney Podiatric Surgery
Sydney Podiatric Surgery is a specialist podiatric surgery practice led by Australian fellowship-trained surgeon Dr Abdel Kak.
Dr Kak combines advanced surgical skills with modern minimally invasive techniques to correct:
- Bunions (hallux valgus)
- Hammertoes
- Nerve entrapments
- Achilles issues
- Flatfoot
- Ingrown toenails and related disorders
The clinic treats both adult and paediatric patients. Care plans range from minor in-clinic procedures to comprehensive reconstructive surgery.
Patients from Moorebank, Bankstown and surrounding areas come to Dr Kak when surgery is the next logical step.
Bexley Podiatry
Bexley Podiatry Foot & Ankle Clinic provides professional foot and ankle care for patients of all ages.
Services include:
- General foot care
- Sports injuries
- Diabetic assessments
- Custom orthotics
- Laser and shockwave therapy
- Dry needling
- Biomechanical gait analysis
- Footwear evaluation
These services help identify movement-related issues and guide effective treatment. Patient education is central to their philosophy.
With close to a 5-star rating from hundreds of reviews, the clinic has built a strong local reputation for consistent, high-quality care.
Barefeet Podiatry
Barefeet Podiatry is a results-focused foot and lower limb clinic based in North Sydney. The practice addresses heel, foot, ankle, knee and hip pain for both adults and children.
Clinical expertise includes:
- Biomechanics
- Paediatric conditions
- Ingrown toenails
- Corns and warts
- Complex pain patterns
Their podiatrists have more than 15 years of clinical experience. The practice blends thorough assessment with practical, effective treatment plans tailored to each patient.
Founded and led by Dr Louise Buchtmann, a former university lecturer and podiatry conference educator, the team emphasises solutions that help you move pain-free and live fully.
Cartwright Podiatry
Cartwright Podiatry provides comprehensive foot and lower-limb care with particular focus on non-invasive solutions for painful and recurring nail conditions.
The clinic uses the ONYFIX Nail Correction System. This is an advanced, surgery-free approach for ingrown and curved toenails that gently reshapes the nail as it grows, without cutting or permanent removal.
By offering ONYFIX, Cartwright Podiatry gives patients an alternative to traditional nail surgery. This is especially suited to those seeking more conservative treatment options.
Care is guided by thorough assessment, ongoing monitoring and practical advice to reduce recurrence.
Performance Podiatry
Performance Podiatry Sydney delivers full-spectrum foot and lower-limb care with personalised treatment plans for:
- Injuries
- Chronic conditions
- Biomechanical issues
- Ongoing pain management
Specialised DVA support:
The practice offers specialised support for eligible current and former Australian Defence Force members under the Department of Veterans' Affairs program. These patients can access podiatric assessment, treatment and preventive care tailored to service-related and general foot conditions.
Treatment approach:
Their clinicians combine evidence-based interventions with:
- Functional movement analysis
- Footwear guidance
- Custom orthotics
- Hands-on therapies
These address problems from heel pain and plantar fasciitis to ingrown nails and sports injuries.
Movement Centre
Movement Centre in Randwick provides evidence-based assessment and treatment for children's foot, leg and gait concerns.
The clinic is backed by an interdisciplinary team of podiatrists and allied health clinicians.
Areas of specialisation:
- Paediatric biomechanics
- Flat feet
- In-toeing and out-toeing
- Growing-pain patterns
- Movement-related issues that affect comfort and development
What they offer:
The clinicians are trained to:
- Evaluate emerging gait patterns
- Prescribe age-appropriate orthotics when indicated
- Integrate interventions into everyday play and activity
Movement Centre also offers practical education for families and tailored home-based strategies that support functional gains over time.
How We Chose the Best Podiatrists in Sydney
We looked for consistent patterns across patient reviews that point to quality care, clear expertise and positive treatment experiences.
1. Consistent Positive Patient Feedback
We prioritised clinics with strong reviews and testimonials that repeatedly mentioned:
- Feeling listened to
- Receiving clear explanations
- Experiencing meaningful improvement
2. Clear Areas of Clinical Focus
Podiatrists who stand out have specific areas of expertise.
We chose clinics whose reviews clearly showed distinct strengths, such as:
- Biomechanical heel pain
- Children's gait
- Surgical care
- Nail conditions
- Sports injuries
Rather than trying to cover everything.
3. Communication and Education
Patients value podiatrists who explain what's causing their pain and why specific treatments are recommended.
Clinics known for their clarity, patience and thorough education featured strongly in our selection.
Best Podiatrist Sydney FAQs
Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist in Sydney?
In most cases, you don’t need a referral to book an appointment with a podiatrist in Sydney, and you can usually contact a clinic directly to arrange a consultation. However, a referral may be required if you’re claiming through specific schemes or funding pathways, such as the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or a chronic disease management plan arranged by your GP.
Some private health insurance policies may also require a referral to access rebates, so it’s worth checking the details of your cover before booking your appointment.
How many podiatry appointments will I usually need?
The number of visits depends on:
- Your condition
- How long symptoms have been present
- How your body responds to treatment
Some issues improve after one or two appointments. Chronic or complex problems may require ongoing care or follow-up reviews.
What should I bring to my first podiatry appointment?
It's helpful to bring:
- The shoes you wear most often, including work or sports footwear
- Any orthotics you currently use
- Previous imaging or reports (helpful but not essential for initial assessment)
