Established in 2005, Tiptoe Foot Care has been based in New Southgate since 2012,  and provides foot health advice and treatment and pain management support to clients from across Hertfordshire and North London.  Some of our loyal patients now travel from much further afield though, even from overseas – they just cannot resist coming back!  It’s certainly a far cry from our humble beginnings in Cockfosters, East Barnet and Palmers Green.

Our patients’ needs range from treatment of common foot problems such as verrucae, corns, ingrown toenails, fungal infections or simple foot/ankle pain to more specialist treatments and advice for diabetes and cancer sufferers. Our highly trained and passionate podiatrists are also able to deliver reflexology, soothe hip or knee pain and provide nail reconstruction so that you can leave us with improved well-being.

Tiptoe’s owner and head clinician, Afni Shah-Hamilton, has developed good links with the local hospitals, and works with nearby GPs and other healthcare professionals (e.g. osteopaths and physiotherapists) to ensure patients get the right care for them.

Meet the team:

Afni Shah-Hamilton is a pain management specialist, who focuses on the biomechanics of the entire body. Afni has helped a large number of patients with unresolved (or in some cases previously undetected) problems with the toes, foot or ankle that were causing long term knee, hip, back or neck pain. An experienced podiatrist, Afni also specialises in helping patients to understand and manage the impact of diabetes and cancer treatments on the feet and legs, including the treatment of ulceration.

A leading expert in the role of podiatry in cancer treatment, Afni sits on the Macmillan Cancer Support Allied Health Advisory Board and has written a series of award winning articles in the Podiatry Review, the quarterly journal produced by the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (see link).  She has presented at healthcare conferences at both the NEC and London’s Excel Centre and has been awarded both a Consultant Fellowship and an Academic Fellowship by the Institute of Chiropodists & Podiatrists, in recognition of her expertise both as a practitioner and in the development and sharing of podiatric knowledge.

Afni’s unique skill set incorporates systematic kinesiology, Anatomy in Motion (AiM) and Adaptable Polarity, and combines these with her anatomic and podiatric training in order to better understand the whole body’s movement.  She uses this breadth of expertise as a key to identify the root cause of long term joint pain and mobility issues, connecting the dots between what might appear to be unrelated issues. Afni has also been trained in acupuncture to help treat conditions of the lower limb such as painful plantar fasciitis.

Afni has participated in online webinars and podcasts, and is regularly invited to provide talks to groups interested in understanding her work, such as cancer charities and support groups interested in podiatric side effects of cancer treatment.  She has also consulted for Versus Arthritis and is a passionate advocate of children’s foot health, having seen many issues misdiagnosed or poorly managed (see also blog). Afni graduated from University College London in Podiatry BSC (Hons) and completed her master’s degree at Kings College London. She previously worked for Southwark Foot Health Department in conjunction with Guy´s and King´s College Hospital as well as working for the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (now the Royal College of Podiatry) as a Learning Fund Project Worker, promoting learning and development across the profession.

Whilst not podiatrists, our receptionists (Ruth, Anne and Marian) are integral members of the team and always keen to help.  Please feel free to give them a call for further information,  if you need to reschedule your appointment, or even if you just need directions from New Southgate or Arnos Grove tube stations!