Dr Steven Kent - Orthopaedic Foot, Ankle & Trauma Surgeon

10/04/2026

Why don't some patients return to sport after an Achilles rupture?

A really interesting finding highlighted in this post 👇

Even when patients recover well physically, a large proportion don’t return to sport.
One of the biggest reasons?

👉 Fear of re-rupture (around 40%)

This is a critical point—and something we probably don’t talk about enough.

As surgeons and rehab teams, we often focus on:
✔ Strength
✔ Range of motion
✔ Functional testing

But this highlights that psychological recovery is just as important as physical recovery.

If an athlete doesn’t trust their Achilles… they won’t push off, sprint, or change direction with confidence—no matter how “good” the tendon looks.

So what does this mean for patients?

Rehab shouldn’t just be about exercises
Confidence needs to be rebuilt gradually
Return to sport is as much mental as it is physical

💡 The best outcomes come when we address both.

24/02/2026

Soccer dads & netball mums – quick question.

Have you ever felt a sudden snap in the back of your ankle during a sprint… like someone kicked you?

You turn around.

No one’s there.

That’s the classic story of an Achilles rupture.

Every winter across Newcastle and the Hunter I see the same pattern – returning athletes, explosive movement, and bang.

If this has happened to you (or someone you know), here’s what to look for 👇

🔗 https://www.hunterfootandankle.com.au/post/felt-a-snap-in-the-back-of-your-ankle-playing-soccer-in-newcastle-it-could-be-an-achilles-rupture

Early assessment makes a huge difference.

Every winter across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter Valley and the Central Coast, I see the same injury pattern.A dad returns to soccer after a few years away.A mum signs back up for netball.Training feels manageable.Then during a sprint, jump or sudden change of direction —Bang.It...

07/01/2026

We've got our Virtual Pink Seats for the 2026 SCG Pink Test! We hope you have yours too! Such a wonderful organisation that has helped so many families and individuals in tough times. We would encourage all of our health partners to visit www.pinktest.com.au to buy your virtual seats and donate to a great cause!
McGrath Foundation

16/12/2025

Wishing all of our partners, patients and health providers a wonderful Christmas and New Year! We will be taking a short break to give our hard-working staff some time off over the festive season but we look forward to seeing you all near the start of 2026! Thank you to everyone for your support this year!

13/09/2025

⏳ Stuck in hospital waiting days for surgery? You don’t have to be. We receive lots of requests from patients waiting for days to have their fracture surgery at the John Hunter Hospital. This guide explains how you can transfer to private care for surgery and get moving sooner 👣 Read more here: https://wix.to/cDhgi4k

Recently, we have experienced a noticeable increase in the number of patients requesting transfers to Lake Macquarie Private under our care, particularly from the John Hunter Hospital. Many of these patients have been enduring the discomfort and challenges associated with their injuries for several....

30/08/2025

Great to see the latest evidence confirming what we see in practice every day:
✅ Exercise is the best first-line treatment for midportion Achilles tendinopathy.
✅ Progressive loading (not just eccentrics!) helps improve pain and function.
✅ Rest isn’t the answer – smart, structured loading is.

I couldn’t agree more with these findings. It’s fantastic to see the science backing up an active, empowering approach to recovery.

The great news for patients is that they simply need a physiotherapist who can deliver exercise and progressive loading. Surgery is rarely the answer!

If you’re struggling with Achilles pain, the key is the right loading program tailored to you.

29/06/2025

Curious about how surgeons are fixing Lisfranc injuries using cutting-edge technology like the tightrope method? 🤔 You're not alone! With Newcastle Knights captain Kalyn Ponga recently suffering his second Lisfranc injury, we've been getting lots of questions! 👉 Take a look at our blog and video at https://www.hunterfootandankle.com.au/post/how-do-surgeons-fix-a-lisfranc-injury

Lisfranc injuries are an injury that we are going to see more as the footy season starts to kick into gear! One of the most common questions we get asked is how do you fix a Lisfranc injury? This depends on the injury type, fracture pattern and an individual patient's circumstances. Nonetheless, we....

02/02/2025

Lisfranc injuries are an injury that we are going to see more as the footy season starts to kick into gear! One of the most common questions we get asked is how do you fix a Lisfranc injury? This depends on the injury type, fracture pattern and an individual patient's circumstances. Nonetheless, we have created this short video here to outline the options for surgical treatment when dealing with Lisfranc injuries...

https://www.hunterfootandankle.com.au/post/how-do-surgeons-fix-a-lisfranc-injury

Lisfranc injuries are an injury that we are going to see more as the footy season starts to kick into gear! One of the most common questions we get asked is how do you fix a Lisfranc injury? This depends on the injury type, fracture pattern and an individual patient's circumstances. Nonetheless, we....

27/01/2025

We’ve been thrilled to help numerous patients who contact us with reports from X-ray, CT, ultrasound, or MRI scans showing an Anterior Calcaneal Process Fracture. While it's natural to feel anxious about a fracture, here's the exciting news: most of these injuries don’t need surgery! All you need is an excellent physiotherapist. Specialist input is rarely necessary, and starting physiotherapy early in the recovery process is key.

For more details, check out our ANTERIOR CALCANEAL PROCESS FRACTURE INFORMATION SHEET at https://www.hunterfootandankle.com.au/post/debuting-our-new-anterior-calcaneal-process-fracture-patient-information-sheet

08/01/2025

The Pink Test might be done & dusted but there is still time to get your virtual seats and donate to a great cause! Go to https://www.pinktest.com.au/ -test-checkout to donate to a wonderful organisation!

Virtual Pink Seats are back in 2025.

16/12/2024

Wishing all of our partners, patients and health providers a wonderful Christmas and New Year! We will be taking a short break to give our hard-working staff some time off over the festive season but we look forward to seeing you all near the start of 2025! Thank you to everyone for your support this year!

05/11/2024

We have seen a larger number of Lisfranc Injuries this year. Lisfranc injuries are now well known after Kalyn Ponga's injury with the Newcastle Knights this year. Despite this, up to 25% of LISFRANC INJURIES can be missed! Take a look at our video below on how to tell if you have suffered a Lisfranc injury. If you think you might be suffering this injury then we would highly recommend you see a doctor or physiotherapist for assessment.

In Newcastle, this injury is famously referred to as the "Kalyn Ponga Injury."This video details the indicators of a Lisfranc injury based on foot symptoms, along with an explanation of the injury mechanism and primary pain locations. Lisfranc injuries can lead to persistent pain in around 60% of in...