732-382-3470
 

Find Us

Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

Foot Notes

Archive:

Tags

Categories:

Have a question? Find answers and other helpful topics in our digital library.

 

 

 

Foot Notes

Posts for: May, 2017

By Clark Podiatry Center
May 25, 2017

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:

Protective Shoes

  • Supportive, sturdy, comfortable shoes that fit well are essential to foot protection. Adequate cushioning is necessary for running or jumping activities. Sturdy shoes will help stabilize children on gravel, woodchip, or shredded rubber playgrounds.
  • Children’s feet grow quickly, so make sure that they have the right size shoes on. If they complain of pain or if you notice redness, swelling, bruising, or blistering, it may be time to buy bigger shoes. Remember, pain is not normal in the feet. Not even “growing pains”.
  • Make sure that shoelaces are not too long so that they do not get caught on playgrounds or other equipment, and so that they cause your child(ren) to trip on their own laces.
  • Sandals are okay, but they may not be appropriate for kicking balls or activities with a lot of running. Look out for exposed toes getting jammed or pinky toes sticking out. Also, use sunblock to prevent sunburn.
  • Some parents may wish to allow their children to go barefoot, especially if it is a grassy area or cushioned playground. However, it’s not always safe or hygienic as there could be dog poop, broken plastic or glass, as well as contagious viruses or fungus on some surfaces.

Environmental Factors

  • Sunburn – Don’t forget that all parts of the body should be protected from the sun’s UV rays. Sunblock should be applied, even on the feet.
  • Grass Allergy – If your time at the park involves running around in the grass, pay attention to any rashes or hives around the feet or ankles, as this can indicate allergic dermatitis on the feet.
  • Insect Bites – Parks and playgrounds can be a hotspot for biting/stinging insects like bees and mosquitoes. Be wary of areas with beehives, especially if your child is allergic. Additionally, if the park is close to any areas with forest or woods, be careful of ticks near the feet, ankles, and legs.

Park Features

  • Sandboxes – Be careful of allowing children in a sandbox, especially on hot days. The sun can make the sand very hot and skin (hands and feet) can burn.
  • Wading pools – If your park or playground has children’s pools, have children keep water shoes on to protect from slipping and viral or fungal infection. 
  • Safe Zones – Talk to your children about what parts of the park or playground are safe for them to play in, depending on age and abilities. If they fall from heights or use equipment without proper knowledge, it could lead to foot or ankle injuries.

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!

 

 

 


0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Clark Podiatry Center
May 17, 2017
Category: Foot Care
Tags: heel pain   blisters   corns   calluses   Bunions   arch pain  

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:

  • Blisters, Corns, Calluses – If you experience blisters, corns, or calluses on your feet, it means that you’ve got friction on your skin from your shoes. The shoe structure may be too tight or laces may be pulled too tightly. If you have a blister on the back of your shoes, you’ll need to put a pad on the back or wear shoes that do not irritate the skin. Other areas of the foot that experience continuous friction may develop corns or calluses, where the skin thickens to protect itself.
  • Toenail Bruising or Tight/Cramping Toes – If you have painful toes, toenails, or cramps in the toes, the toebox of your shoes may be too small or tight. Often called Jogger’s Toe, the nail can turn a dark color if there is repeated or continuous impact on the toes. Additionally, a small toebox can cause your toes to have to cramp up in the tight space.
  • Arch or Heel Pain – If you are experiencing arch or heel pain, it can be due to a lack of support or cushioning in the shoes. Shoes that have worn down inner soles can have reduced cushioning, causing more impact on the feet. The strain put on the feet can cause heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. 
  • Unevenly worn down outer soles – Check the bottom of the shoes to see if your shoes are worn down a certain way. If you tend to intoe or outtoe, the outer soles will be worn down unevenly. Not only do certain unsupportive shoes make the problem worse, if you keep wearing these shoes, you can experience pain.
  • Bunions or other growths/deformities – When shoes are not supportive or constantly put your feet in an uncomfortable position, your feet can become disfigured. This can happen, especially with women’s shoes, where the front can be pointy-tipped and high heels can put too much strain on the balls of the feet.

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!

 

 


0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Clark Podiatry Center
May 11, 2017

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!


0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Clark Podiatry Center
May 04, 2017
Tags: clubfoot   Ponseti Method  

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:

  • Ponseti method – Since your baby’s feet are still very flexible, your doctor will move the foot (or feet) into the correct position and put it in a cast to keep it there. This may also require re-casting to slowly move the foot into a better position for proper development. If necessary, the doctor may also require minor surgery to lengthen the Achilles tendon.
  • Surgery – If the above method does not work, it may be necessary to perform a more invasive surgery in which several tendons need to be lengthened. A cast will be required after the surgery as well.

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!

 


0 Comment(s) Permalink


Contact Us

Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today 732-382-3470

1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470