foot and ankle rehab.jpg


Foot & Ankle

 
PR Background 1.jpg

Our foot and ankle specialists work with anyone who struggles with pain as a result of surgery, poor foot biomechanics, metatarsalgia, “flat feet”, bunions, arthritis or tendinopathies (including achilles and posterior tibialis). 

Foot and ankle problems are often related to other issues in the back, hip, knee or even the spine – so we’ll always assess those areas too. We’ll then put together a personalised treatment programme for you, taking into account your lifestyle and time constraints to make sure it’s both realistic and achievable.

Find out more about our NEW Foot & Ankle Service here.

Meet our specialists

Sarah Lawson

Sarah gained a postgraduate qualification in Sport Medicine in 1997. A seasoned triathlete and kitesurfer herself, she specialises in lower limb injuries, back pain, and cycling and running-related injuries.

She developed a particular interest in foot and ankle treatments after injuring her foot two years ago – an injury that required three injections followed by surgery to get her back into sports.

 

Sian MacRae

Sian (Dr Sian MacRae PhD) is a Musculoskeletal Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner, and a member of the Association of Foot and Ankle Physiotherapists.

Sian has a particular interest in lower limb biomechanics, the influence of footwear on musculoskeletal conditions, and conditions of the foot and ankle. Alongside her role here, Sian continues to work in the NHS alongside Foot and Ankle Consultants in Trauma and Orthopaedic clinics.

 

Jane Baker

Jane Baker is a specialist Foot and Ankle Physiotherapist and a member of the Association of Foot and Ankle Physiotherapists.

With over 30 years experience in musculoskeletal practice Jane has spent the last 15 years specialising in physiotherapy and rehab for foot and ankle injuries. Her expertise covers all foot and ankle injuries including pre and post operative rehab, complex foot and ankle injuries, biomechanical problems and injuries.

 
PR Background 1.jpg

WHAT WE TREAT

We treat a variety of foot and ankle conditions, including the following:

 

Lateral ligament injury, e.g. sprained ankle

Achilles tendinopathy

Post-operative tendon repair, e.g. brostrom repair

Bunion surgery

Plantar fasciitis

Stress fractures

Post-op arthroscopy

Neuroma

 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

When you first arrive at Physio Remedies (and after you’ve filled out a few tedious forms!), we’ll usually have a one-hour session with you, broken down as follows: 

+ 1: Full assessment of your issues

Your therapist will ask you questions about what’s happened, what hurts, what treatment you’ve had to date, past injuries/medical conditions, your general fitness, and so on.

+ 2: Physical examination

Your therapist will look at the area of pain, but also the body as a whole: your current pain could, for example, be the result of an injury from years ago that’s now putting excessive pressure elsewhere.

+ 3: Treatment and next steps

Once your therapist has a good overview of what’s wrong, they may be able to provide you with some treatment there and then to ease your pain and make you feel more comfortable. They’ll also sit down and discuss their findings and next steps with you.

These next steps may involve regular physiotherapy, exercises for you to do at home, massage (our massage therapist [Emily] does excellent post-op scar tissue work), and more. When you’re given exercises to do in your own time, we sometimes like to record them on your phone (with your permission, of course), so that you have something accurate to follow. Alternatively, we might give you links to exercise programmes created just for you.

Your therapist will never give you too many exercises – and they’ll always check that you’ll realistically be able to fit them into your days.

+ 4: And then?

What happens next depends on your specific condition and the treatment required. Your therapist will outline everything in detail during the first appointment, so that you know exactly what’s going to happen and how long your treatment may take.

HELPING YOU GET THE BEST TREATMENT

Sometimes, physiotherapy isn’t the answer – and we believe in referring our patients on quickly when they have problems that require a specialist opinion. 

We have strong, direct links with foot and ankle specialists in central London, which means we can help you with a fast, efficient referral process to orthopaedic consultants, sports medicine doctors/consultants and podiatrists.

OUR PODIATRY SPECIALIST

The foot can affect our entire body and how we use it, and podiatry can offer us insights into our body “mechanics” and how we move. That’s why we think it’s so important to pay just as much attention to the foot as to the rest of the body – even if pain is felt elsewhere. 

Our specialist podiatrist, London-based Jay Thakrar, can carry out gait analysis and digital foot scans if needed. He can offer advice, as well as prescribe bespoke and functional orthotics/insoles, to complement your sessions with your physiotherapist.