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.
Comprehensive care
Personalised foot treatments, from conservative to surgical.
Back pain support
Addressing foot alignment to improve spinal health.
Tailored approach
In-depth assessment of movement and biomechanics.
What is podiatry?
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.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nail Complaints
- Ingrown toenails: Often caused by malcutting or trauma, ingrown toenails can progressively develop and cause discomfort. Our podiatrists can provide careful nail cutback or perform a nail procedure for a permanent solution.
- Fungal nails: Fungal infections can affect the nails, often developing after having athlete’s foot. Our team are experienced in diagnosing and treating fungal nails, preventing further spread and restoring nail health.
- Nail trauma: Stubbing or stamping injuries can damage the nails, leading to significant pain. In some cases, nail removal may be necessary to facilitate proper nail regrowth and alleviate discomfort.
Sports Injuries
- Stress fracture: Repetitive overloading of a bone can result in stress fractures. We are able to offer appropriate interventions to promote bone healing and prevent further injury.
- Ankle sprain: Common in sports involving running, jumping, and quick direction changes, ankle sprains can cause damage to the tendons and ligaments around the ankle. Our podiatrists can assess the severity of the sprain and provide comprehensive treatment to aid recovery.
- Joint pain: Synovitis and capsulitis are conditions where the joint fluid or capsule and surrounding structures become inflamed. Our expert team can help to manage joint pain, by offering targeted interventions to reduce inflammation and improve joint function.
Other Foot Pain
- Plantar fasciitis: The most common cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis affects the fascia where it inserts into the heel bone.Our podiatrists diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis, providing effective pain relief and promoting healing.
- Morton’s neuroma: Morton’s neuroma is characterised by a thickened nerve near the toes, leading to a burning and numbing sensation, typically between the third and fourth toes.
- Callus and corns: Thickened and compressed hard skin can develop from friction and high-pressure areas. We are proficient in the removal of calluses and corns, providing relief and preventive measures to minimise recurrence.
Consultants
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.