Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
One of your child’s favorite activities is probably going to the park. With the onset of warmer weather and plenty of sunshine, your child(ren) will want to spend as much time as possible at the park! It’s important, though, to keep certain things in mind for keeping your children and their feet protected. At Clark Podiatry Center, we want to keep parents prepared and children safe at the park. While a park can mean a variety of different layouts and structures, the following general safety guidelines are applicable across the board:
Environmental Factors
Park Features
Have additional questions about foot safety at the park? Make an appointment today at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your children’s feet to find the best treatments or solutions for growing feet. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!
No, we don’t mean it like your shoes are not your soulmates, but maybe they are not your “sole-mates”! We always stress the importance of buying shoes that are comfortable and supportive, and that’s really to help you prevent pain and problems in your feet and ankles. So if your feet are complaining to you or feel out of whack, it may be a sign that you are wearing shoes that are wrong for your feet.
Look for the following signs that you may need different shoes:
If one pair of shoes tends to make your feet hurt more than others, check the structure and comfort levels of the shoes. Even if they are really fashionable, they may be wrong for you and you’ll need to break up with them. Donate them to someone else that might fit into them well.
Having foot problems due to your footwear? Make an appointment today at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your feet to find the best treatment. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!
While not very common, babies can have birth defects related to the feet. Many of them can be due to developmental issues, but others can have hereditary factors that cause the problem. When infants’ feet show to have rigid in-toeing, it’s likely that they have what’s called metatarsus adductus. This occurs when the bones in the front half of the foot curve in toward the big toe. About half of the babies have this issue in both feet.
Possible Causes
The infant’s position in the womb can affect the whether or not he or she is born with a problem. It can depend on a few things, like a family history, baby’s position during birth (breech position), or if the mother did not produce enough amniotic fluid during pregnancy.
Treatment
Most times, treatment is not necessary for this problem if the curve is not severe. The problem can fix itself as children use their feet. However, when the case is not as mild but the feet are still flexible, treatment with a cast or special shoes may start when the child is 6 to 9 months old to straighten the foot. For severe cases, surgery may be required, but will be delayed until the child is between 4-6 years old.
Regardless of the treatment required, children will still be able to use their feet. The only problem might be deformity and developmental problems, including ankle or knee pain. Long-term effects can include developmental dislocation of the hip, where the thigh bone can slip out of the hip socket.
Does your baby have curved feet? Make an appointment today at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your child’s feet to find the best treatment, if any is required. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!
In about 1 in 1000 live births in the US, babies can be born with a deformity called Clubfoot. The infant’s foot can be turned inward or twisted out of shape. This birth defect, in which babies are born with short tendons, can affect the muscles in the feet, ankles, and calves. Doctors can identify clubfoot upon inspection shortly after birth, which can help increase the chance of correcting the problem without surgery as babies grow.
What causes clubfoot?
The exact cause of clubfoot is unknown, but researchers believe that is can be caused by a combination of hereditary factors and environment (during pregnancy). It seems that if the parents have had clubfoot, or if a sibling was born with it, subsequent babies are more likely to be born with clubfoot as well. As for environmental factors, there is not enough amniotic fluid, or if the mother smokes or uses drugs during pregnancy, there is a higher risk of abnormal growth. Additionally, genetic and development factors such as birth defects come into play, chances are higher for clubfoot.
What are Treatment Options?
If left untreated, your baby will have a harder time with crawling and walking. It may or may not cause pain, but things like gait, shoe size, and calf size can all affect quality of life. More serious, long-term consequences include mobility issues and development of arthritis. When treated early enough, further complications can be avoided.
Some treatment options include:
After the corrective measures are taken, it is important to keep up with maintenance procedures such as stretching and bracing to prevent the foot from reverting to the clubfoot position. This may mean using special shoes during the day and braces during the night. Even with surgery or Ponseti method treatment, your child may need additional corrective surgery when they are older and their bodies are more fully developed.
Was your baby born with clubfoot? Make an appointment today at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your child’s feet to find the best treatment for clubfoot. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!
Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066