Foot & gait clinic · Waterford & New Ross

Conditions we help Pain that starts at your feet.

Welcome to our Conditions We Help page, where we aim to provide valuable information about pain that may be related to imbalances in your feet, and how we can assist you in finding relief.

Book a foot & gait assessment → Where does it hurt? or call 089 256 0354

Jump to a condition

Tap the one that sounds like you.

12 conditionsfrom the feet up to the back

Gaitassessment of how you walk

Orthoticsand supportive footwear

2 clinicsWaterford and New Ross

Pain finder

Where does it hurt?

Tap the area on the body, or pick from the list, to see the conditions we commonly help with there.

←Choose where it hurts to see the conditions we help with.

Conditions we help

From your feet to your back

Tap any condition to see the signs, why it happens, and how support from the ground up can help.

Foot

Illustration of the feet with the arch highlighted

Arch pain

Aching, tightness or fatigue through the arch of the foot.

Signs

Arch pain often develops gradually, presenting as aching, tightness, or fatigue through the arch of the foot, especially after long periods of standing, walking, or working on hard floors.

Why it happens

Poor foot support is a major contributor, with flat feet, high arches, worn-out shoes, or lack of proper insoles placing excessive strain on the arch structures.

How we help

Targeted support makes a real difference, as orthotic insoles and supportive footwear help redistribute pressure through the foot, reduce strain on the arch, and improve comfort during daily activities.

Learn more about arch pain →Book →

Heel and ankle Illustration of the feet with the heel and arch highlighted

Plantar fasciitis

Sharp heel or arch pain, worst with the first steps in the morning.

Signs

Plantar fasciitis typically causes sharp heel or arch pain, most noticeable with the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest, easing as the foot warms up but often returning later in the day.

Why it happens

It develops from repeated strain on the plantar fascia, commonly linked to poor arch support, long hours standing on hard floors, sudden increases in activity, or tight calf muscles.

How we help

Proper support is key to recovery, with orthotic insoles and supportive footwear helping to offload the stressed tissue, reduce heel impact, and allow inflammation to settle when combined with appropriate stretching and strengthening.

Learn more about plantar fasciitis →Book →

Knee and leg Illustration of the knee with the joint highlighted

Knee pain

Aching or stiffness in the knee, often linked to how the foot moves.

Signs

Knee pain often develops from poor lower-limb alignment, showing up as aching, stiffness, or discomfort when walking, climbing stairs, standing for long periods, or at the end of the day.

Why it happens

Foot mechanics play a major role, as flat feet, overpronation, or unsupportive footwear can cause the leg to rotate, placing extra strain through the knee joint with every step.

How we help

Improving support at foot level helps reduce knee strain, with orthotic insoles and supportive footwear improving alignment, reducing unwanted movement, and easing stress on the knee during daily activities.

Learn more about knee pain →Book →

Back and hip Illustration of the lower back with the muscles highlighted

Back pain

Stiffness or aching in the lower back after standing or walking.

Signs

Back pain often builds gradually, presenting as stiffness, aching, or discomfort in the lower back, especially after long periods of standing, walking, or sitting.

Why it happens

Poor foot support can contribute to back pain, as unstable arches or lack of shock absorption allow excessive impact and misalignment to travel up through the knees and hips to the spine.

How we help

Supporting the feet helps support the back, with orthotic insoles and appropriate footwear improving alignment, reducing impact forces, and easing strain on the lower back during everyday movement.

Learn more about back pain →Book →

Back and hip Illustration of the hips with the joints highlighted

Hip pain

Aching in the hip, groin or outer thigh after long days on your feet.

Signs

Hip pain often presents as aching or stiffness in the hip, groin, or outer thigh, commonly worsening after walking, standing, or long days on hard surfaces.

Why it happens

Foot mechanics can strongly influence hip discomfort, as unstable arches or excessive foot rolling can cause the leg to rotate inward, increasing stress on the hip joint and surrounding muscles.

How we help

Improving support from the ground up can ease hip pain, with orthotic insoles and supportive footwear helping to stabilise movement, improve alignment, and reduce strain through the hips during daily activity.

Learn more about hip pain →Book →

Heel and ankle Illustration of the foot from the side with the heel bone highlighted

Heel spurs

Sharp or aching pain under the heel, especially when standing.

Signs

Heel spurs are bony growths that form on the heel bone, often linked to long-term strain and commonly felt as sharp or aching pain under the heel, particularly when standing or walking.

Why it happens

They usually develop alongside conditions like plantar fasciitis, where repeated pulling on the heel from the plantar fascia and tight calf muscles contributes to irritation and discomfort.

How we help

Reducing stress on the heel is key, with orthotic insoles and supportive footwear helping to cushion impact, redistribute pressure, and reduce strain on the tissues attached to the heel.

Learn more about heel spurs →Book →

Heel and ankle Illustration of the lower leg with the Achilles tendon highlighted

Achilles tendinitis

Pain and stiffness at the back of the heel or lower calf.

Signs

Achilles tendinitis causes pain and stiffness at the back of the heel or lower calf, often worse first thing in the morning or after activity, and may feel tender to touch.

Why it happens

It commonly develops from repeated overload, including sudden increases in activity, tight calf muscles, poor foot mechanics, or unsupportive footwear that increases strain on the tendon.

How we help

Improving foot support can reduce tendon strain, as orthotic insoles and appropriate footwear help control excessive foot movement, reduce pulling forces on the Achilles, and support recovery when combined with stretching and strengthening.

Learn more about Achilles tendinitis →Book →

Knee and leg Illustration of the lower leg with the shin highlighted

Shin splints

Aching or sharp pain along the inner edge of the shin.

Signs

Shin splints cause aching or sharp pain along the inner edge of the shin, often developing during or after walking, running, or long periods on your feet.

Why it happens

They are commonly linked to repetitive impact and poor foot mechanics, such as overpronation, sudden increases in activity, or inadequate footwear that fails to absorb shock.

How we help

Supporting the feet helps reduce stress on the shin, with orthotic insoles and supportive footwear improving alignment, absorbing impact, and reducing strain through the lower leg during movement.

Learn more about shin splints →Book →

Foot

Metatarsalgia

Pain and burning in the ball of the foot, like walking on a pebble.

Signs

Metatarsalgia causes pain and burning in the ball of the foot, often described as feeling like you're walking on a pebble, and typically worsens with standing or walking.

Why it happens

It develops from excessive pressure on the forefoot, commonly due to poor footwear, lack of cushioning, high arches, or altered foot mechanics that overload the metatarsal heads.

How we help

Reducing forefoot pressure is key to relief, with orthotic insoles and supportive footwear helping to redistribute weight more evenly across the foot and ease stress on the ball of the foot.

Learn more about metatarsalgia →Book →

Foot

Illustration of the feet with the area between the third and fourth toes highlighted

Morton's neuroma

Burning or tingling between the toes, like standing on a folded sock.

Signs

Morton's neuroma causes burning, tingling, or sharp pain in the ball of the foot, often between the third and fourth toes, and may feel like standing on a pebble or a folded sock.

Why it happens

It develops when a nerve becomes irritated or compressed, commonly due to tight or narrow footwear, high-impact activities, or excessive pressure through the forefoot.

How we help

Relieving pressure on the nerve is essential, with orthotic insoles and properly fitted footwear helping to offload the affected area, improve foot mechanics, and reduce symptoms during walking and standing.

Learn more about Morton's neuroma →Book →

Children

Illustration of a child's foot from the side with the heel highlighted

Sever's disease

Heel pain in growing children, usually during or after sport.

Signs

Sever's disease causes heel pain in growing children, most commonly during or after sport, and is often worse with running, jumping, or activity on hard surfaces.

Why it happens

It develops due to repeated strain at the growth plate in the heel, where tight calf muscles and high activity levels place extra pulling force on the heel bone.

How we help

Reducing strain and impact helps symptoms settle, with supportive footwear, shock-absorbing insoles, and heel support helping to protect the heel while flexibility and strength improve as growth continues.

Learn more about Sever's disease →Book →

Children

Illustration of the knee from the side, below the kneecap

Osgood-Schlatter disease

Pain and swelling just below the kneecap in active, growing children.

Signs

Osgood-Schlatter disease causes pain and swelling just below the kneecap, most commonly in active, growing children and teenagers, especially during running, jumping, or sport.

Why it happens

It develops from repeated pulling of the patellar tendon on the shinbone, often made worse by rapid growth, tight muscles, and high activity levels.

How we help

Managing load and improving lower-limb support helps, with supportive footwear and orthotic insoles improving alignment and reducing strain through the knee while activity modification and stretching support recovery.

Learn more about Osgood-Schlatter →Book →

Why it starts at your feet

How your feet affect your knees, hips and back

When the arch collapses or the foot rolls in too much, the leg rotates with every step. That extra strain travels up through the knees and hips to the lower back.

Without support, the arch drops and the leg rotates inward, adding strain to the knees, hips and lower back with every step.

Feet

Flat feet, high arches, worn-out shoes or no proper insoles strain the arch, heel and ball of the foot.

Shins and ankles

Overpronation and poor shock absorption load the shins and the Achilles tendon.

Knees

The leg rotates, placing extra strain through the knee joint with every step.

Hips and back

Impact and misalignment travel up through the hips to the lower back.

Foot & gait assessment

How we help you find relief

We look at the whole picture, from your feet up, and give you support that fits how you live and move.

Talk it through

Where it hurts, when it started, and what makes it better or worse.

Check your feet and how you walk

A foot and gait assessment shows how your feet and legs are moving.

Look at your footwear

Worn-out or unsupportive shoes are a common part of the problem.

Support from the ground up

Orthotic insoles, supportive footwear, and advice on stretching and strengthening.

Book an assessment →About Foot & Gait →

Support from the ground up

Orthotic insoles and supportive footwear

Not sure which is right for you? We'll recommend the best option at your assessment.

Shop orthotics and insoles →Browse footwear brands →

Questions

Good to know

They can. Unstable arches or excessive foot rolling can cause the leg to rotate, and a lack of shock absorption lets impact travel up through the knees and hips to the lower back. Supporting the feet often helps the whole chain.

Not always. Some people need orthotic insoles, others do well with supportive footwear and stretching. We'll recommend what suits you at your assessment.

Yes. Conditions like Sever's disease and Osgood-Schlatter disease are common in active, growing children, and supportive footwear and insoles can help symptoms settle.

Book a foot and gait assessment. We'll look at your feet, how you walk and your footwear. Find out more about Foot & Gait.

We have clinics in Waterford and New Ross. See our locations or call 089 256 0354.

Don't let pain hold you back

Find the cause, not just the pain.

Book a foot and gait assessment and we'll help you find relief from the ground up.

Book an assessment →Call 089 256 0354

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