Ankle and foot
Ankle and foot physiotherapy, Hobart
A rolled ankle isn't always just a rolled ankle.
Unstable, rolls easily, stiff and locked up, or nervous to put weight on it. We assess how your ankle, foot and hip work together, and build the balance and strength you need to trust it.
Book initial assessment Our approach
No referral needed. All major health funds.
- No referral needed
- All major health funds
- GP care plans accepted
- Hobart
Much of the work after an ankle sprain is balance and control, not just strength. If that isn't rebuilt, the ankle keeps rolling.
Sprains, stiffness and sore feet.
Ankle and foot pain covers a lot: a fresh sprain, an ankle that keeps rolling, stiffness after an old injury, or pain under the foot when you stand or walk. We work out what's driving yours before we decide how to load it.
Keeps rolling
Rolls easily on uneven ground, trails or the sports field.
Stiff and locked
Doesn't bend like the other side, especially going downhill or squatting.
Sore under the foot
Sore under the heel or arch, often worst with the first steps of the day.
Not trusting it
Nervous to put weight on it, jump, or change direction.
What's driving it.
Your ankle and foot take your whole body's load with every step. When the muscles that control them can't keep up, load lands on ligaments, tendons and joints instead.
Balance and control
Balance that wasn't fully rebuilt after the first sprain.
Calf and foot strength
Not enough strength to control landing and push-off.
Ankle range
Stiffness that changes how the foot and knee take load.
Hip control
Hips that don't control the leg send more load to the ankle.
Load spikes
A big hike, a new running block, or a season starting.
The other 23.5 hours
Footwear, standing, and long days on your feet.
Sound familiar?
- Unstable, rolls easily
- Nervous to put weight on it
- Stiff and locked up
- Can't run
- Feels like walking on the outside of the foot
- Sore with the first steps in the morning
- Doesn't trust it on trails
- Puffy after a long day
How we work through it.
We settle it, rebuild balance and control, then add strength and speed until you trust it again.
Assess
We test your balance, ankle range, calf strength, and how you land.
Explain
What's driving it, and why the ankle keeps rolling or stiffening.
Plan
A clear pathway to the trail, sport or day on your feet you came in for.
Load
Balance and control first, then strength, then hopping and changing direction.
Measure
We re-test balance, hopping and range as you go.
Progress
Faster, more varied loading, then back into your sport or activity.
Three phases. Your pace.
Calm
Settle the swelling and pain, restore early movement, and learn what eases it.
Coordination and capacity
Rebuild balance, control and strength, then hopping, landing and faster forces.
Challenge
Strength for life, so your ankle handles trails, uneven ground and sport.
What we measure.
A generic example of what we track. Your starting point is your own, which is why we measure rather than guess.
| Measure | Baseline | Re-test | What decides the next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-leg balance | Wobbly or short on the injured side | Time and control against your other side | Matching your other side moves you into hopping |
| Ankle range | Stiff compared with the other side | Range compared with the other side | Range back means we add load and speed |
| Hop and landing | Not yet, or not trusting it | Control and confidence landing | Confident landing moves you into changing direction |
Keep building once the pain's gone.
Phase three happens in our own gym. When you're ready, Strength By Design is where that work carries on, coached and physio-designed.
What makes us different.
We look at how you move
Not just where it hurts. The movement pattern, the coordination, and what's actually loading the sore spot.
Strength is the treatment
Pain relief is the start. Loading the right muscles in the right order is the work that follows.
We explain the why
You leave every session knowing more about your body than when you arrived.
Progress you can see
We measure where you start and re-test as you go, so you always know where you're at.
One standard of care
Every physio works to the same assessment-led method, every session.
Clinic and gym under one roof
Seven treatment rooms and a private gym, run by the same team.
Common questions about ankle or foot pain.
Should I rest my ankle?
Usually not completely. After the early days, the right movement and balance work tends to help more than keeping it still. We'll find what your ankle can handle and build from there.
My scan shows a ligament tear. Do I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Most ankle ligament injuries are managed with progressive rehab. We'll walk you through what your scan means for your situation, and refer you on if something needs a specialist.
Why does my ankle keep rolling?
Often because balance and control weren't fully rebuilt after an earlier sprain. We test it, measure it, and build it back as part of your plan.
I've had ankle treatment before and it came back. What's different here?
Often the pain settled before balance and strength were rebuilt. We measure both as you go, and keep building past the point the pain eases.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly without a GP referral, unless your insurer or GP has specified otherwise. If you have a GP care plan (CDM or EPC), we accept it: you pay the full fee, we lodge the Medicare claim for you, and Medicare pays the rebate to you.
Ready to get on top of your ankle or foot pain?
No referral needed. All major health funds. GP care plans accepted. Hobart.
Or call or text 0483 947 716, or email hello@bydesignphysio.com