Podiatry
From routine foot care to complex musculoskeletal issues, our consultant podiatrist, Mr Saj Afzal, offers personalised treatments to enhance foot health, alleviate associated symptoms, and even relieve back pain caused by foot issues. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Mr Afzal is a highly respected Harley Street Consultant and a trusted member of our Clinical Multi-Disciplinary Team.
Quick facts
Comprehensive Foot Care
From conservative treatments to surgical interventions, we offer personalised care to promote optimal foot health
Alignment & Back Pain
By addressing underlying foot problems our podiatrist can help alleviate back pain and improve overall spinal health
Tailored Approach
We conduct thorough assessments to understand the unique biomechanics and movement patterns of our patients
Treatment overview
When one foot is in pain, it can disrupt your walking pattern, leading to difficulty and asymmetry. This strain on the spine may cause twisting (scoliosis) and result in damage and pain. Additionally, leg length discrepancies can contribute to spinal curvature and further damage to discs and joints. Our experienced podiatrists are dedicated to resolving these problems by addressing the underlying conditions causing gait abnormalities. Through various interventions such as exercises, insoles, and orthotics, we can correct leg length differences, rebalance the pelvis, and realign the spine. In fact, up to 15% of patients with back pain have a leg length asymmetry, and addressing this issue can often provide significant relief.
How are musculoskeletal and postural problems assessed?
To gain a comprehensive understanding of your walking posture and its impact on spinal alignment, we perform thorough biomechanical assessments, including video gait analysis. By examining the movement of different body areas during walking, we can identify gait abnormalities and imbalances. This valuable insight allows us to develop tailored treatment plans to correct these issues and realign the spine. Our precise and individualised approach ensures that specific interventions are implemented to address your unique needs, optimising the effectiveness of the treatment. By focusing on the relationship between gait and spinal alignment, we can provide targeted care to improve your overall spinal health.
Common problems
While every patient is different, there are common problems like nail complains, sports injuries and other foot pain issues that our podiatrist can effectively address. By recognising and diagnosing these common problems, our podiatrist can provide targeted solutions to relieve pain, promote healing, and restore foot function.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Podiatrists are foot experts who can address a wide range of foot conditions, including nail problems, fungal infections, sports injuries, heel pain, bunions, corns, calluses, and more. They are trained to diagnose and provide appropriate treatment for various foot-related issues.
Many patients suffering from back pain actually experience it as a result of underlying foot issues. When one foot hurts, it can lead to difficulty and asymmetry while walking, placing strain on the spine. Podiatrists can identify and address painful conditions causing gait abnormalities, correct leg length differences, and rebalance the pelvis and spine through exercises, insoles, or orthotics. Resolving these foot-related issues can often alleviate back pain.
Gait analysis is the study of how a person walks or runs. It involves assessing the movement patterns and alignment of the body during locomotion. Gait analysis is important because it helps identify abnormalities, imbalances, or biomechanical issues that may contribute to foot and lower limb problems. By understanding how a person's walking posture affects spinal alignment, podiatrists can develop personalised treatment plans to correct these issues and realign the spine.
The treatment process typically begins with a thorough assessment of your foot condition, which may include a physical examination, discussion of symptoms, and possibly diagnostic tests such as X-rays or gait analysis. Based on the findings, the podiatrist will develop a personalized treatment plan, which may involve various interventions such as foot care, orthotics, exercises, footwear recommendations, or even surgical procedures if necessary. Regular follow-up appointments may be scheduled to monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.
