Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
As your body experiences wear and tear, you become aware of different parts of the body, mostly because they start to ail you. This is very much the case for many of the soft tissues (ligaments and tendons) in your feet and ankles because of how much they are used each day. In particular, for those that do a lot of walking, standing, or sports training, plantar fasciitis can have an effect sooner than for others.
Once you notice that the soles of your feet are tight or give you pain with each step, you should start with some of the following home relief techniques.
·Morning stretch: You may experience pain with the first few steps you take after you get out of bed in the morning. To prevent excessive pain and tightness, stretch the soles of the feet before you get out of bed. Try the following steps: 1. Straighten the legs in front of you with feet flexed. 2. Then, pull the tops of the feet toward you. Can’t reach? Use a strap, thin blanket, or towel.
·Morning/evening foot massage: 1. While sitting, rest the right ankle across the left leg’s knee so that the sole of the foot faces up. Pull the big toe back with your right hand to stretch the sole. Rub along the sole with the other left thumb. Then switch and repeat on the other foot. 2. You can also do a foot rub by rolling your foot on a golf or lacrosse ball on the ground.
·Rest and rotate exercises: If you train hard for a sport or exercise very often, you need to slow down and allow time for rest and recovery. In particular, if you tend to exercise by doing a lot of jumping (basketball, long jumps) or putting weight on the front of the feet (boxing, running), the plantar fascia may become inflamed more often. Switch up the type of exercises you do throughout the week to give your feet time to rest.
·Footwear: Shoes with arch and heel support are important to keep the feet in the correct position. If your feet tend to overpronate (rotate inward), it can worsen symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Buy shoes with good arch support or use orthotic inserts to help with this issue. High heels and flats can both make plantar fasciitis pain worse.
·Night splint: If you have recurring morning plantar fasciitis pain, an immobilization splint worn during the evening may help prevent that tension by keeping the foot flexed.
·Anti-inflammatory meds: If your soles or heels are swelling after a long day of walking or standing, you may need ice and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to help reduce the inflammation and pain.
If you the pain gets worse, or it causes you pain on your heels, consult our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. Make an appointment to see us today at our Clark, NJ office so that we can help you find the best solutions for your particular needs. We keep you walking!
Every milestone that your baby achieves can feel like a miracle. However, with information overload from books, the Internet, and other parents, each new step can also feel daunting. What are the right things for parents to be doing to help promote their growth and development? Should babies be protected from harm or should they learn by trial and error?
In the case of babies that are transitioning from being immobile, to sitting, crawling (or maybe they’ll skip this), standing, and eventually, walking, there are many opinions about how babies should be handled. The following are some do’s and don’ts from a podiatric standpoint:
Do:
Don’t:
If you have further questions about your baby’s development with regards to their feet and standing or walking, it’s best to consult our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. If you are concerned that your toddler has walking issues and has not grown out of them by the age of 3, they may need some additional support and treatment. We are here for you at Clark Podiatry Center and The New Jersey Children’s Foot Health Institute. Make an appointment to see us today at our Clark, NJ office.
Foot fungus is an infection that commonly infects the feet. Toenail fungus, called onychomycosis, can start with a little bit of yellow or white discoloration or dot, but long-term effects can end with fungal build up. Eventually, the nails become discolored (between yellowish and grayish), thicker, and ragged at the tips of the toenails.
Causes: Toenails can become infected by a skin opening or crack in the nails. There are many fungi that can affect toenails as well as the skin (resulting in diseases known as Athlete’s foot and ringworm). Those with weakened immune systems and restricted blood circulation can make folks more susceptible to fungal infection. They are commonly spread in areas that are damp, such as gym locker rooms or towels and other items used by those with infection.
Typical Treatments:
Laser Therapy: The latest treatment option for fungal toenails is laser therapy. It is a low risk, painless treatment with no known side effects. It can effectively treat fungal infection through a short 10-minute session, with follow-up sessions if necessary. It can kill the fungus living in the nails so that future nail growth will occur without the infection. Since toenails can grow slowly, it can take as long as 5 to 6 months for the toenail to push out the infected area. We also offer Keryflex to cover and cosmetically restore damaged toenails. You can hide fungal infections using Keryflex and nail polish.
Got a persistent fungal infection that won’t respond to typical treatment? Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy for an assessment of the fungal toenails. Make an appointment today to have your feet treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!
Your body goes through a lot during pregnancy. From morning sickness to the extra weight you begin to carry, your body may start to feel foreign to you. The changes in hormones can alter some physical attributes of your body in addition to your emotional well-being. Not all expecting mothers go through all symptoms, but some of these can happen as your body prepares for supporting the growing baby.
The lower half of the body can very much be affected by the pregnancy, especially in the feet and ankles. As your body gains weight and the baby grows, the feet must bear more weight. This can temporarily flatten the arches in your feet, and widen them as well. Additionally, fluids become trapped as circulation decreases. As fluids travel around the body, the return up to the upper half of the body is restricted as the baby grows. Not only do your feet and ankles swell, they can also experience numbing or tingling, and the swelling can make you less stable. The more the arches and the heel have to work, the more they are at risk for pain from plantar fasciitis and/or Achilles tendonitis.
Pregnancy can be difficult, as it is. Here are some tips to help you care for your feet during pregnancy.
Be sure to keep track of any changes you may experience while you are pregnant. While swelling is normal during pregnancy, uneven swelling or excessive swelling can indicate complications. See your doctor immediately if you feel something is off.
Have questions or concerns, particularly about your changing feet? Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy for an assessment. Make an appointment today to have your feet treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!
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