Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
It doesn’t only affect people who play sports on turfs. While they do affect those that play football and soccer, it’s an injury that can affect anyone that may incur impact on the big toe. Turf toe occurs when there is a hyperextension of the ligaments around the big toe joint. When the big toe joint is stretched while the heel is lifted off the ground, right as soon as running begins, the tissues can be torn or ruptured.
Turf toe causes symptoms of pain, tenderness, and swelling at the big toe joint. Because there are many other possible injuries regarding the big toe joint, it’s possible the injury can be mistaken for other issues. The pain can also go away or be ignored, and the athlete can keep going on the injury, making it worse later.
Here’s how you can tackle turf toe:
If you or a family member has a big toe joint injury, and experience recurring and consistent pain, come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. Make an appointment today to have your feet assessed and treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!
Children and adults alike are at a higher risk of injuring their feet or ankles if they do not take preventative measures. Especially when taking part in intense activity like sports, dancing, or playing on the playground, children with weak feet or ankles can incur an injury.
Even if your children won’t necessarily take part in these types of activities, it’s better safe than sorry, especially because you never know when they may trip or fall from uneven grounds. Because they are still growing and their bones and tissues are still developing, an injury can cause issues with proper development. Injuries to the growth plate can result in complex procedures to fix the problem.
The following are some flexibility exercises that you and your children can do to lower risk of injury:
Don’t forget to use proper foot and ankle wear and protective gear. Wearing shoes that are appropriate for activities can help prevent injury. For example, cleats are important to prevent slipping in grass or turf, while hiking shoes help stabilize and protect on uneven hiking trail terrain. Furthermore, your child should stretch and warm up before sports and other vigorous activity.
Did your child experience an injury while playing sports? Need more information about increasing flexibility? Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. Make an appointment today to have their feet assessed and treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!
For those of you taking care of older loved ones, you probably find yourself doing many things on their behalf: making doctor’s appointments, taking them to the supermarket or buying their groceries, as well as buying their clothing and shoes. All these tasks are not always easy, so we first want to encourage you and acknowledge the great job you’re doing!
Now we want to focus on what to look for when purchasing footwear for older adults. Footwear requirements can change as people age. Bone structures change, and the body, including the feet, can shrink. Because of these possible changes, it’s important to follow these top tips when buying supportive footwear for seniors:
Do your best to take them with you. The best way to buy footwear is to have the older loved one try on shoes (with socks) and walk around in them before buying them.
The shoes should be comfortable and fit well. Toes should be able to wiggle, but feet should not slip around inside the shoes. Also, avoid any that feel like they are causing friction.
If you cannot take them with you due to time or mobility restrictions, try to find ones that seem to have supportive features. It may help to buy more than one pair so that they can choose at home. Then, you can return the other pair(s).
Buy the shoes according to their needs.
Are they going to wear the shoes indoors or outdoors? If they will primarily wear the shoes inside, consider the floor material. If you have carpet, smooth outer soles will prevent tripping, while hardwood floors will require some grip to prevent slips.
Do they need shoes with wide toe boxes due to bunions? Some foot deformities make the feet wider, but not longer. It may be tempting to buy a size up, but that can cause tripping. Instead, look for the wide sizes, indicated with a W next to the numerical size.
Got flattened arches? Look for shoes that have arch support and heel cupping so that they have increased support and stability.
Do they have arthritic pain? Ample cushioning is helpful for preventing painful impact on the joints when walking.
Your older loved one may need custom orthotic shoes or inserts if they cannot find the right shoes for their needs. Make sure they go for a podiatric checkup to assess for developing problems, especially since foot pain can affect mobility and stability. Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. Make an appointment today to have their feet assessed and treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns! We keep you walking!
Some people naturally have weak ankles, which makes them more prone to getting an injury. From strains and sprains to broken bones, an ankle injury can be immobilizing, and worse, it can be recurring. An injured ankle tends to get re-injured more easily.
The best way to care for and prevent ankle problems is to be proactive. Strengthen your ankles and condition them to be flexible and resilient. Listed below are some exercises you can do to strengthen your ankles – whether they are weak or not! (Remember to stretch before you workout)
Worried about unstable, weak ankles? Do you twist or sprain your ankles often? Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. Make an appointment today at The New Jersey Children's Foot Heath Institute at Clark Podiatry Center to have your feet assessed and treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns! We keep you walking!
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1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066