Injured your foot, ankle, knee or lower limb?
A twist, fall, impact or awkward landing can change the way you walk almost immediately. Early assessment helps clarify what may be injured and what to do next.
Flow Clinic provides ACC injury assessment and rehabilitation for eligible lower-limb injuries in Wairau Valley. Treatment focuses on protecting the injury when needed, restoring movement and rebuilding strength for walking, work, running or sport.
ACC appointments are for injuries, not simply any painful area.
The injury may occur during sport, work, exercise or an ordinary daily activity. What matters is that there was an accident, specific event or clinically relevant injury mechanism.
Twists, falls and impact injuries
Foot and ankle injuries often occur after rolling the ankle, missing a step, landing awkwardly or receiving a direct impact.
- Lateral ankle sprain
- Foot or toe sprain
- Heel or forefoot contusion
- Suspected tendon or ligament injury
- Painful weight bearing after trauma
Twisting and loading injuries
Knee and hip injuries may follow a collision, sudden turn, awkward landing, fall or a forceful movement during work or sport.
- Knee sprain or twisting injury
- Impact-related knee pain
- Hip or groin strain
- Gluteal or hamstring strain
- Reduced walking after injury
Sudden muscle and tendon injuries
Calf and lower-leg injuries commonly occur during acceleration, running, jumping, lifting or an unexpected stretch.
- Calf muscle strain
- Achilles injury
- Lower-leg contusion
- Running or jumping injury
- Pain after a specific event
The first appointment should answer the important questions.
We start with the injury mechanism. A rolled ankle, direct impact, forceful push-off or awkward landing gives important information about which structures may have been loaded.
The examination is then matched to the injury rather than applying the same tests to every patient.
- Pain location and injury mechanism
- Swelling, bruising and local tenderness
- Weight-bearing and walking tolerance
- Joint movement and muscle strength
- Ligament, tendon or fracture screening
- Need for imaging or medical referral
Book an assessment when an injury changes the way you move.
You do not need to wait until the injury becomes severe. Early guidance can help avoid both unnecessary rest and an overly aggressive return to activity.
You are limping after the injury
Limping, avoiding one side or being unable to walk normally suggests that the injury is affecting function and deserves assessment.
Swelling or bruising develops
Swelling and bruising can help indicate the location and severity of tissue damage, particularly after ankle, foot or knee trauma.
The injury is not settling
Persistent pain, repeated giving way or failure to regain movement may mean the rehabilitation plan or diagnosis needs to be reviewed.
Seek urgent medical care after severe trauma, obvious deformity, an open wound, a cold or numb foot, rapidly worsening swelling, severe uncontrolled pain or complete inability to bear weight. Suspected fracture or major Achilles rupture may also require prompt imaging or medical review.
A moon boot or brace is useful only when the injury needs it.
Some lower-limb injuries benefit from temporary protection. A moon boot, ankle brace, taping or walking aid may reduce painful load while the injury is assessed and early healing begins.
Support should have a clear purpose and a review plan. Keeping a joint immobilised longer than necessary can contribute to stiffness, weakness and reduced confidence.
- Support selected according to the injury
- Advice on weight bearing and walking
- Correct fitting and footwear matching
- Early movement when clinically appropriate
- Planned progression out of the support
Pain settling is only the beginning of recovery.
Once the injury can tolerate more load, rehabilitation shifts toward restoring movement, strength, balance and confidence. The programme is progressed according to the injured structure and the activity you need to return to.
- Restore ankle, knee or hip movement
- Rebuild calf and lower-limb strength
- Improve balance and single-leg control
- Progress walking, stairs and work tasks
- Prepare for running, jumping or sport
Treatment changes as the injury recovers.
Acute injury care and return-to-sport rehabilitation are not the same phase. Exercise range, resistance, speed and complexity are progressed over time.
Protect and settle
Early management may involve load modification, compression, elevation advice, taping, bracing or a moon boot when clinically appropriate.
Restore movement
Controlled joint movement and muscle activation are introduced according to tissue irritability and weight-bearing tolerance.
Rebuild strength
Rehabilitation may include calf raises, resisted ankle work, squats, step exercises, balance tasks and hip strengthening.
Return to normal demand
Later rehabilitation may include faster loading, hopping, landing, changes of direction and graded return to work, running or sport.
From the injury event to a clear recovery plan.
The aim is to make the process straightforward while keeping treatment clinically relevant.
Book an initial assessment
Choose an ACC initial appointment when symptoms began after an accident, twist, fall, impact or defined injury event.
Assess the injury
We review the mechanism, symptoms and function, then examine the relevant joint, muscle, tendon or ligament.
Protect or load appropriately
The plan may involve temporary support, movement advice and exercises suited to the stage and suspected injury.
Progress the rehabilitation
Strength, balance and activity are progressed until you can manage the required work, walking, running or sport demands.
An injury claim needs an injury event and appropriate clinical information.
Flow Clinic can assess the injury and provide the clinical information required for treatment, but ACC makes the final cover decision.
More likely to fit a standard ACC injury claim
These examples involve a specific incident or defined injury mechanism.
- Rolled ankle while stepping off a kerb
- Twisted knee during football
- Calf pain after a sudden sprint
- Foot injury after dropping an object
- Hip pain following a fall or collision
May not fit a standard accident claim
Gradual symptoms without an identifiable incident may require private assessment or a different ACC pathway.
- Months of gradually increasing heel pain
- General wear-and-tear symptoms
- Pain without a specific event or mechanism
- A pre-existing condition becoming more noticeable
- Non-injury medical or inflammatory conditions
Some conditions that develop gradually because of a person’s work may be considered under ACC’s work-related gradual process criteria. These claims are not the same as a routine accident claim and may require additional medical, occupational and employer information.
Questions about ACC injury appointments.
Do I need to see my GP first?
You can book an injury assessment directly with Flow Clinic. When the injury and provider requirements are met, a claim may be lodged without a separate GP appointment. ACC makes the final cover decision.
What does an ACC appointment cost?
Flow Clinic currently charges a $20 surcharge for an eligible ACC initial appointment and a $10 surcharge for an eligible ACC follow-up. Braces, orthotics or other products may involve additional charges.
Can you assess a new ankle injury?
Yes. The appointment may include assessment of swelling, tenderness, weight-bearing, joint movement, ligament or tendon involvement and whether imaging or medical referral is appropriate.
Can you provide a brace or moon boot?
A brace, moon boot or other support may be recommended when clinically appropriate. It should be fitted for a clear reason and reviewed as the injury progresses.
Does ACC cover gradual pain?
Gradual pain without an identifiable accident does not usually fit a standard accident claim. Some work-related gradual conditions may be considered under separate ACC criteria.
Will I need an X-ray or scan?
Not every injury requires imaging. Referral may be considered when fracture, major tendon injury or another significant structural injury is suspected, or when progress is not occurring as expected.
Can I continue working or playing sport?
This depends on the injury and your current function. Some people can continue with modified duties or training, while others need temporary protection followed by a graded return.
What happens at follow-up appointments?
Follow-up appointments reassess pain, swelling, movement, strength and function. Exercises and activity levels are adjusted as the injury becomes capable of handling more load.
Lower-limb injury affecting your walking, work or sport?
Book an ACC injury assessment at Flow Clinic in Wairau Valley. We will assess the injury, explain what may need protection and build a staged rehabilitation plan.