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Who’s the best person to treat my foot and ankle injury?

Foot and ankle injuries can often occur as a result of too weight bearing in a short period of time. It may be that you have simply been doing a little too much too soon and the affected area just needs rest.

However, there may be underlying reason for the soreness, extrinsic or intrinsic, and it never pays to ignore an injury, especially when it may be very easy to locate its cause. You could be assessed and treated by:

• Podiatry – podiatrists specialise in diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the foot and lower limb. They can provide relief of painful symptoms and also preventive care for people with conditions that may affect the health of their feet. A podiatrist might prescribe and manufacture orthoses – specialist insoles that can address problems like pronation by holding the foot in a stable position and preventing it rolling inwards. Podiatry is rarely offered on the NHS, so you’ll probably have to pay to see a podiatrist privately.
  South West Podiatry is covered by most UK insurance providers, So you may not have to pay for your assessment and treatment. Call today to book an appointment 
• Physiotherapy – this covers a well-established group of treatments or techniques, frequently involving physical manipulation of the affected area. It’s offered in hospitals, on the high street, in doctors’ surgeries, and often in gyms and sports centres. Physiotherapy is a very broad term and many physiotherapists specialise in a particular area of the body, so you may need some guidance in choosing the right therapist for you. Physiotherapy is available on the NHS, but these days you usually have to wait weeks and months. If you can decide to see a physio privately, you can refer yourself directly.
• Osteopathy – this is a complementary therapy that focuses on musculo-skeletal problems. It concentrates primarily on problems with muscles, joints and nerves and employs a range of physical and manual techniques. In the UK it’s considered a complementary therapy, so access to osteopathy on the NHS is limited, but some osteopaths work alongside GPs, and GPs are permitted to refer patients to them. You can also go to see them privately without referral.
• Chiropractic – chiropractors use physical manipulation to treat problems with joints, bones and muscles, and the effects they have on the nervous system. Chiropractors place particular emphasis on the spine, which is why they tend to be associated with treating bad backs. Like osteopathy, chiropractic is only available as an NHS treatment in some areas, depending on the policy of the local primary care trust, or you can see them privately without referral.

If you do go directly to a therapist outside the NHS, it’s important to check they’re a regulated practitioner, and whoever you see for treatment – on the NHS or not – needs to have skills relevant to your specific problem.

All the Podiatrists working at South West Podiatry are regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council, the governing body in the UK.

The full BBC article can be viewed athttp://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/healthy_living/fitness/injuries_treatment.shtml

Clinic locations:

Appointments are available at Earlsfield and Maidenhead clinics.  *On-site diagnostic ultrasound is available at Earlsfield and Maidenhead clinical locations.

How to book:

Click the following link to schedule your consultation online 24/7:  BOOK ONLINE.  Alternatively, speak to our friendly booking team between 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday: 020 7164 6607

Insurance and Fee’s:

We accept most major private medical insurance companies including BUPA, Vitality, WPA, Cigna, AVIVA and Simply Health. A full list of our consultation fee’s including self-pay can be found here:  Insurance and Fee’s. Our Podiatry team are health care professional council registered, meaning they are required to maintain professional standards and continued professional development. As an organisation we have invested in the latest diagnostic technology in order to help our podiatry team, help you. We have onsite diagnostic ultrasound available at Maidenhead and Earlsfield clinics. Infra-red pressure analysis available at Maidenhead and Earlsfield clinics with treadmill examinations.