Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
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.
If you’ve just become a new parent, life has suddenly become full of wonderful surprises. Making sure your child grows up happy and healthy will be one of your priorities and keeping track of your child’s foot health is important. So, what can you expect?
Unlike an adult’s, a newborn’s feet will be much more padded and flexible allowing for the growth of bones and muscles. A baby’s feet are often blue, wrinkled and peeling having been inside the mother’s womb covered in amniotic fluid. Do not fret, though. They will naturally begin to pinken as they get warm.
Things to look for:
While all the above are possible, they are not automatic, so don’t be alarmed. Your podiatrist is specifically trained to assess and treat where needed.
While it is fine to look forward to seeing your child take their first step, don’t be too anxious. Each child will develop on their own and rushing them could set back their efforts. Most children don’t start walking until they are 8 to 18 months old. Until then, it is important for them to be able to stretch their legs and move their toes. It is perfectly fine for toddlers to go barefoot as they refine their balance, posture, and coordination. Very important is the transfer of information from the soles of the child’s feet to their brain.
When it comes to shoes, a child’s feet should be professionally measured for length and width. It is not uncommon for shoe sizes to change every few months as feet will grow rapidly in the first few years. This is the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Enjoy it.
If you have any concerns with your child’s feet or their development or any other foot concerns, please make an appointment with us. Our podiatrist, 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.
There is no better time to begin taking care of our feet than when we are a child. From the very beginning it is crucial our children maintain good foot health and knowing which problems are most likely to occur early on can help greatly. So, what are some of the more prevalent issues with our children’s feet? Good question.
As an infant, it is very important for children to be able to move and stretch their feet as their bones are growing. Undue pressure can damage this and can lead to much more serious problems later on. Also make sure that socks and shoes are not too tight. Don’t rush a child into walking. He or she will develop on their own according to their individual needs, but do keep an eye on their gait so if some type of intervention is needed, it can be addressed immediately.
Bowlegs - a curvature of the legs which can be indicative of other more complex issues like Rickets caused by a lack of vitamin D and Blount’s disease or abnormal growth on the top of the tibia.
Early recognition is very important for our children’s foot health. If you believe your child may suffer from any of the above conditions or if you have 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. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.
The foot is one of the most complicated parts of the human body. With 19 separate muscles, 26 bones, 33 joints, and at least 107 ligaments and tendons, it is easy to see why taking care of your feet is very important. One of the common ailments many people experience is called Plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of connective tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot connecting the heel bone to the rest of the foot. Plantar Fasciitis is commonly experienced by people whose feet constantly pound hard, flat surfaces and are often caused by Heel Spurs or bony protrusions of calcium on the heel.
If you have any questions or would like to see a podiatrist, please make an appointment with our friendly staff. Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470. If you have concerns with your children’s feet, Dr. Macy specializes in pediatrics and can assess your children’s feet at New Jersey Children’s Foot Health Institute.
Your children grow up in what seems like a blink of the eye. They start to crawl, take their first steps, are running, and jumping, and before you know it, tying their own shoelaces! Then it’s off to college!
Okay, so it’s not quite that quick, but time sure can fly by. That’s why we want to encourage you to start teaching your children to take care of their feet early. Children are pretty perceptive and can learn by example starting from a young age. Take advantage of the years when they are soaking up knowledge and teach them some of the following ways to take care of their own feet:
If you need tips on how to help your child with foot care, 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 any concern you may have for your child’s feet. Make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office so we can keep your child walking.
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1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066