25 May 2026
You Don't Need a GP Referral to See a Physio in Australia
One of the most common myths in Australian healthcare is that you need a GP referral to see a physio. You don't — and here is what that actually means for you.
Read moreCondition guide
Ankle & Foot Pain — Do You Need a Physio, GP, or Something More Urgent?
The right answer depends on your specific symptoms. Triagr will tell you in 2 minutes — free.
Triage my ankle or foot pain now →
Free · No account required · Built by a registered physiotherapist
Why it's not always obvious
Ankle and foot problems range from minor sprains to injuries that need urgent assessment. The challenge is that the severity of pain does not always reflect the severity of the injury — some serious ankle injuries are less painful than they look, and some minor ones are more painful.
Whether you twisted your ankle, have pain at the back of your heel, or have developed foot pain gradually, the right next step depends on specific details about what happened and how your ankle is behaving now.
Getting the right assessment early prevents minor injuries from becoming long-term problems.
The right next step depends on a few key questions about your specific situation.
If it started suddenly
How your ankle or foot pain started makes a significant difference to what you should do next. Sudden onset after an injury or incident often needs a different approach to pain that has come on gradually.
If it has been going on for a while
How long you have had ankle or foot pain matters. A problem that has been there for weeks or months is managed differently to something that started recently — and the right next step depends on more than just how long it has been.
If your symptoms are severe
The severity of your ankle or foot pain is one factor — but severity alone does not determine where you should go. Some severe presentations are best seen by a physiotherapist directly. Others need a different first step. The combination of your symptoms is what matters.
How Triagr works out the right answer for you
Triagr asks you a series of plain-language questions about your ankle or foot pain — how it started, how long it has been going on, how severe it is, and a few other key details. Based on your specific answers, it gives you a clear recommendation: emergency department, GP, physiotherapist, or self-manage at home. It takes 2 minutes and it's completely free.
Start your free triage →Built by a registered physiotherapist
Plain language — no medical jargon
General health information only — not clinical advice