Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
It’s easy to forget, but children can have foot pain, too. In fact, undiagnosed pain can have lasting consequences on the future health and development of their feet. We’re in the business of keeping you walking, and that includes your children. Here are a few questions to consider as your child moves from one shoe size to the next. Dr. Brandon A. Macy and his team at Clark Podiatry Center are trained and experienced in pediatric foot health.
No. One common myth about foot pain in children is that this is simply a growing pain. As with adults, pain is never normal and should not be ignored. Many pediatric foot conditions have simple solutions, but delayed treatment can worsen symptoms and impact recovery time. Even if your child is dismissing pain to their feet because they want to play in the next game, for example, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Some conditions, like flat feet, are a common part of childhood development that should eventually resolve without intervention. Other conditions, such as warts and ingrown toenails, can be prevented with healthy foot habits like regular washing and drying and proper toenail trimming. When caring for the health and happiness of your child, don’t forget to include their feet.
Regularly inspect your child’s feet and respond quickly to any changes. Also, listen to ways that your child may share pain or discomfort. You may notice non-verbal cues, too, such as facial expressions when moving around or putting on shoes.
If you’re noticing signs that your child is experiencing pain in their feet or ankles, schedule an appointment with Dr. Brandon A. Macy of Clark Podiatry Center. He is a board-certified podiatrist at our Clark, New Jersey office. New Jersey’s Children’s Foot Health Institute is a part of the Clark Podiatry Center, too. Call 732-382-3470.
If your child’s heel hurts, they may be suffering from something called Sever’s Disease. Severs Disease, or Calcaneal apophysitis, is a condition that includes the painful swelling of their foot’s growth plate. Sever’s Disease is something more apt to be found in children. The pain will most likely emanate from the soft cartilage that lays next to the heel bone where much of the child’s foot growth occurs. Damage to this part of the foot can develop into something much more pronounced and painful over time if not corrected. The best person to diagnose Sever’s Disease is your podiatrist who should be consulted if your child is suffering from any type of heel pain.
Often developed during puberty, Sever’s Disease can be caused by the rapid and uneven growth of foot bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles resulting in the distortion of the growth plate.
With appropriate treatment, most patients will resume activities in 2 weeks to 2 months.
Do you suspect your child may has Sever’s Disease or any other foot concerns schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute . Come see us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!
It probably won’t be a surprise to you that much of a child’s foot health is inherited. High or no arches, tendencies to walk bow legged or the development of calluses are just some of what a child can expect if their parents suffered from the same. One common malady, however, is something called Severs Disease. Also known as Calcaneal apophysitis, Severs Disease is the inflammation of the growth plate in the heel of growing and active children. Severs disease causes pain and a slight swelling around the heel making it difficult to walk or run.
As long as the treatment works, your child can go back to their active self. It is not uncommon, though, for the malady to return unless long term care such as the above is taken. Some of the sports which would be prone to this are running, basketball, tennis and gymnastics, but any activity that requires pounding their feet on a hard surface can induce Severs.
If you or your child has heel pain or any other foot concerns, please make an appointment with us. Dr. Brandon A. Macy, who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute, will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.
Ever since the day you brought them home from the hospital, you’ve probably thought that every part of your child is precious – from the strands of hair at the top of his/her head to the tickly bottoms of his/her feet. One of the most dreaded acts you had to perform was probably cutting the fingernails and toenails without accidentally drawing blood!
Today, we’ll talk about those cute toenails you cared for. Let’s start by saying that children’s toenail problems are not very common. However, there are a few things you should know about possible problems they can encounter.
Again, these problems are pretty rare, but they can happen. Practicing good hygiene, grooming correctly, having a nutritious diet, and ensuring a good fit in shoes will help to prevent these problems. If you suspect something is going on with your child’s toenails, come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your child’s feet at New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute and find the best treatment for toenail problems. Make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office so we can keep your child walking.
As your child continues to grow taller and stronger, they may experience what we commonly call “growing pains”. But did you know that there is no evidence that growth causes pain? So what’s going on when your child complains of aches and pains in the legs and is sometimes even woken up by it?
Well, it’s most likely the body’s way of telling your child that he or she has overused muscles throughout the day. As your child learns the limits of what the body can do, (s)he might play (run, jump, or climb) to the point of overexertion. The thighs, knees, or calves may feel stiff or sore and the pain may not go away until morning (with adequate rest).
But what if the pain continues to bother them? Or what if the pain is in the feet or ankles? These symptoms may indicate more of a problem.
Ongoing or chronic pain can indicate that there are misalignment issues in the feet, ankles, or legs, causing repetitive strain on certain muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Children who are pigeon-toed or are in-toeing can experience ongoing pain in different parts of the feet, ankles, or calves.
If the pain is localized to a specific part of the foot or ankle, there’s a good chance that there is a foot problem, such as:
Actually, pain in the feet and ankles are never “growing pains”. So if your child complains of pain in the areas of the leg with muscles, they may find relief with some massage or a warm bath with Epsom salt. However, if the pain is in the joint itself, or the feet or ankles, make an appointment to see us at The New Jersey Children’s Foot Health Institute at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your child’s feet and ankles to find the best treatment. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!
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1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066