Physiotherapy · Hampstead, London · 5 Ella Mews, NW3
Foot & ankle pain physiotherapy in Hampstead, London
HCPC-registered physiotherapy at 5 Ella Mews, NW3. Your feet are the foundation of your movement - when they're not functioning well, it impacts everything above. Through a detailed assessment of your strength, mobility, balance and gait, we build a programme tailored to your body and your goals.
Understanding foot & ankle pain
What is foot & ankle pain?
Foot and ankle pain is often overlooked in its early stages, but it plays a critical role in how your whole body moves. What starts as mild discomfort, instability or tightness can develop into ongoing pain, reduced mobility, and compensation patterns that affect the knees, hips and lower back. At SF Studios, our foot and ankle pain physiotherapy focuses on early intervention as well as structured recovery - your feet are the foundation of your movement, and when they're not functioning well it impacts everything above.
Types of ankle pain
Symptoms ankle pain can cause
Foot and ankle pain can affect how you walk, exercise and move through everyday life. Symptoms include:
- Pain or tenderness in the foot or ankle
- Swelling around the foot or ankle
- Stiffness or reduced range of movement
- Pain when walking, running or exercising
- Weakness, instability or the ankle giving way
- Difficulty with balance or putting weight through your foot
Range of foot & ankle problems
Foot & ankle conditions we treat
We treat a wide range of foot and ankle problems, from persistent pain and overuse injuries to sprains and post-surgical rehabilitation.
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis / plantar heel pain
- Ligament injuries
- Sports and running injuries
- Foot and ankle fractures
- Persistent foot or ankle pain
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
Physiotherapy can help identify what's contributing to your symptoms and get you back to moving well and doing what you love.
Benefits
Benefits of Foot & Ankle Pain Physiotherapy
Your feet and ankles are fundamental to how you move through life. They support every step, every change in direction, and every load placed through your body. When pain or instability develops, it can quickly affect your confidence, your activity levels, and your overall quality of life.
Targeted foot and ankle physiotherapy helps to:
Reduce pain and improve mobility
Restore strength and joint stability
Improve balance and coordination
Prevent compensatory issues in the knees, hips, and back
Alongside treatment, we integrate physiotherapy-led training, including balance work and strength exercises, to build long-term resilience and support confident movement. This is particularly important as you age, where maintaining balance and stability is key to preventing falls.
Rather than simply managing symptoms, our approach focuses on restoring function so you can move freely and confidently without planning your life around pain.
Our approach
How we treat foot & ankle pain
Rather than simply managing symptoms, our approach focuses on restoring function, so you can move freely and confidently without planning your life around pain.
Targeted foot and ankle physiotherapy helps to reduce pain and improve mobility, restore strength and joint stability, improve balance and coordination, and prevent compensatory issues in the knees, hips and back.
Hands-on physiotherapy & soft tissue therapy
Hands-on treatment to reduce pain, release tension and improve mobility through the foot and ankle. The foundation of how we treat.
Strength, balance & gait
Assessment of gait, foot mechanics and arch function to understand how daily movement contributes to pain and dysfunction. Targeted exercises to improve stability, coordination and control through the feet and ankles.
Movement rehabilitation
Low-impact, controlled movement, including Pilates-informed strength work, to improve strength, stability and overall body alignment. We build long-term resilience so you can stay confident in how you move.
Education and self-management
We share what we find. You leave with the tools, exercises and habits needed to support your recovery beyond the clinic, and to maintain strong, stable movement over time.
Your programme
What your treatment may include
Your physiotherapy programme is designed around you, your current activity level, and what you want to achieve.
No.1
Sports physiotherapy
A performance-focused approach to support recovery, rebuild strength, and return you to activity safely.
No.2
Senior physiotherapy
Support for adults aged 65 and over to maintain strength, balance, and confidence in movement.
No.3
Podiatry
Assessment of gait, foot mechanics, and arch function to understand how daily movement contributes to pain and dysfunction.
No.4
Soft tissue therapy
Hands-on treatment to reduce pain, release tension, and improve mobility.
No.5
Balance training
Targeted exercises to improve stability, coordination, and control through the feet and ankles.
No.6
Pilates
Low-impact, controlled movement to improve strength, stability, and overall body alignment.
What to expect
How it works
Four principles that shape every session - whether you're recovering from surgery, managing chronic back pain, or returning to sport.
Step 1
Initial consultation
A 60-minute first consultation. We'll discuss your history, your symptoms, and what you want to be able to do again. Hands-on assessment plus, where clinically relevant, Kinvent technology to give us objective data.
Step 2
Your treatment plan
A personalised plan built around your back, your life, and your goals. Combining hands-on therapy, movement rehabilitation and, where it serves you, coaching, massage or strength work from the wider SF Studios team.
Step 3
Recovery & progress
Follow-up sessions guided by measurable progress. We share the data, we share the reasoning. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your body and the tools to take care of it long after treatment ends.
Meet the team
Meet the team
Highly skilled and personable. Whatever brings you in, you'll work with someone genuinely invested in your progress.
Founder • Director physiotherapist
Suz Ferreira
Physiotherapist, coach and movement specialist. BPhysT · APPI · ICF · IFS · Gestalt · Strozzi.
25+ years helping people recover from injury, overcome pain and build lasting resilience - treating the whole person, not the symptom.
Book now
Senior Physiotherapist
Tamas Kariko-Toth
MSc Physiotherapy, Semmelweis. Sports injuries, back pain and post-surgical rehab.
Sports injuries, chronic pain, post-surgical rehab and senior care, with a strong focus on educating every client.
Book nowWhat it costs
Physiotherapy pricing
All sessions at 5 Ella Mews, Hampstead NW3. Clear bookings and follow-up packages available - designed to keep you on track with your treatment.
New clients
Physio Intro Package
£225
1-hour assessment + 3 × 30-min follow-ups with Tamas.
Book this packageFirst assessment with senior physio
£135
Initial 60-min consultation. Expert-led assessment & hands-on treatment with Tamas.
Book with TamasFirst assessment with director physio
£195
60-min consultation with Suz. Senior-level care for complex cases and strategic rehabilitation.
Book with SuzFollow-up sessions
From£100
Packages: 12 × 30-min from £90/session ・ 6 × 60-min from £145/session. Valid for 7 months
View packagesCover & Reimbursement
Private medical insurance
Our physiotherapists are registered with Aviva and WPA. We operate on a self-pay basis and provide a detailed invoice for reimbursement. Clients have also claimed with providers including Vitality, Healix, and others, depending on their coverage.
If you are planning to use private medical insurance, we recommend checking with your provider in advance to confirm your level of cover and reimbursement eligibility.
FAQ's
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a GP referral to see a physiotherapist for foot & ankle pain?
No. You can book directly with a private physiotherapist, no referral needed. Just book an initial consultation through our website or by phone.
How many sessions will I need?
Most acute issues respond within 3–6 sessions. Chronic or complex cases may require more. After your initial consultation, your physiotherapist will give you a realistic treatment plan with an expected timeline, no surprises, no open-ended treatment.
Is physiotherapy covered by insurance?
Many private health insurance providers (Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Cigna and others) cover physiotherapy. Check your policy or contact your insurer directly. We can provide invoices and clinical notes to support your claim.
What's the difference between Tamas and Suz?
Both are HCPC-registered. Tamas (Senior) provides expert-led, hands-on assessment and treatment for sports injuries, back pain and post-surgical rehab. Suz (Director, founder) provides Director-level clinical care for complex cases that benefit from strategic rehabilitation across her wider expertise in coaching and movement. Not sure which is right? Get in touch, we'll help you decide.
What should I bring to my first consultation?
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Bring any relevant MRI or X-ray results and a list of current medication if you have one. None of this is essential, but it helps your physiotherapist build a fuller picture from the outset.
Can you relate to these?
Other conditions we treat
Click a condition to see how we treat it - symptoms we recognise, the approach we take, who you'll work with, and what to expect from your first visit.
- Back painChronic, acute and posturalView
- Neck PainDesk strain, headaches, mobilityView
- Shoulder PainRotator cuff, frozen shoulder, instabilityView
- Knee PainACL rehab, sports injuries, strengthView
- Sports physiotherapySports massage, ACL rehab, performance recoveryView
- Pre & post-surgeryRehab & recovery, build back strongerView
- Senior physiotherapyActive ageing, arthritis, falls preventionView
- ACL injuryReconstruction rehab, return to sportView
- All PhysiotherapyConditions, team and pricingView
Ready to address your foot & ankle pain?
Book your first consultation, or start with the Physio Intro Package, £225 for an assessment plus three follow-ups.