A child's feet grow rapidly during the first year, reaching almost half of their adult foot size. This is why podiatrists consider the first year to be the most important in the development of the feet. Proper care at a young age is essential for healthy development.  Since many adult foot ailments develop in childhood, periodic visits to your child’s podiatrist and basic foot care can help minimize these problems later in life.

A child’s feet are formed from soft, pliable cartilage which makes them more susceptible to deformities. A young child can be affected by foot conditions such as:

• Intoeing
• Out-toeing
• Flat feet
• Warts
• Heel pain

Tips for Parents

Parents can help promote normal, healthy foot development for their baby.

• Examine your baby’s feet regularly. If you detect anything unusual, contact your child’s pediatrician or podiatrist right away.
• Encourage exercise.  Lying uncovered allows the baby to kick and move feet and toes freely so not to inhibit normal development.
• Cover feet loosely. Tight clothing or covers restrict movement.
• Alternate your baby’s position several times a day. Lying too long in one spot may place unnecessary strain on the feet and legs.

Growing Up

As your baby continues to grow and develop, so will the feet. It may be necessary to change shoe and sock size every few months, as tight-fitting footwear can aggravate pre-existing conditions. After your child takes their first steps, you should also carefully observe walking patterns. Intoeing, out-toeing, and gait abnormalities can be corrected when they are detected early.

A baby’s feet will carry them throughout life, so it’s important to begin good foot care at a young age. Neglecting your child’s foot health invites problems in other parts of the body, such as the back and legs. Whether you have questions about your child’s foot health or suspect a problem with the development of your child’s feet, please contact our office. We want every step your child makes toward adulthood to be pain-free and easy!

While the appearance of blisters may be embarrassing, the pain accompanying them is often much worse and more of a concern for people who have them. Although blisters are a common foot problem experienced by many, have you ever wondered what the cause of those pesky blisters could be? Or, better yet, how they can be treated?

Blisters:

Blisters appear on a swollen part of the foot and consist of fluid, typically clear, though, depending on the blister, the fluid may also have blood. Blisters are usually caused by repeated friction or rubbing on a specific part of your foot. Here are some examples of things that can produce that constant friction:

• The type of footwear and how properly your shoes fit

• Your skin type and foot type (high, low or medium arch)

• The moisture found around your feet

• Heavy objects you may be carrying around, like a bag pack 

Symptoms:

While blisters are rarely filled with pus, pus can form if the blister is infected. In that case, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s preferable to talk to your doctor:

• Foot Pain
• Soreness
• Redness
• Swelling

While the symptoms may seem common, any persistent pain needs medical attention. Individuals with diabetes need to be especially careful. If left untreated, the blister may turn into an ulcer, leaving you susceptible to an amputation.

Preventive Care Treatments:

There are several precautions you can take to prevent blisters. Here are a few preventative care options:

1.      Make sure to wear proper fitting shoes

2.      Wear moisture-wicking socks

3.      Cushioned insoles are a good idea

4.      Double-socks will provide extra cushion

5.      Wear orthotics recommended by your podiatrist

6.      Use antiperspirants, powders, and lubricants to reduce moisture and friction.

The key to healthy feet is preventative care and referring to your foot doctor whenever you have questions or concerns. 

With the ability to cause nagging discomfort throughout the day and prohibit daily movements as simple as walking, bunions can quickly turn from a barely noticeable bump on your toe, to a painful deformity that detracts from your over wellbeing. Fortunately, if caught early, you can prevent this podiatric issue from developing into a serious problem. Read on to learn if you could be suffering from this condition, and whether you should take a visit to your local podiatrist.

Signs That You May Have a Bunion

Generally forming on the side of your big toe, bunions are hard, bony lumps that are often caused by wearing poorly-fitted shoes (especially high heels), having genetic predispositions, or experiencing a foot injury. If you think that you may have a bunion, be on the lookout for these symptoms:

• A bony protrusion at the base of your toe
• A generally red discoloration
• A feeling of tightness in previously comfortable shoes

The above-listed symptoms describe the beginning stages of a bunion, a point during which your podiatrist will likely recommend a conservative approach to treatment. However, you may require more extensive medical care if you begin to notice these signs:

• Persistent pain and swelling
• Periodic numbness of the foot
• Restricted and slowed movement of the toe/foot

Treatments

For less serious bunion cases, ones in which there isn’t pain yet and movement is still unrestricted, your podiatrist may recommend:

• Soaking your foot in warm water
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications such as Aspirin
• Wearing appropriate shoe inserts
• Avoiding tight-fitting footwear

In severe bunion cases, your podiatrist will likely recommend a more rigorous treatment approach in order to alleviate pain and increase mobility. Some of these options include:

• Custom-made orthotics to maintain toe alignment
• Regular physical therapy and a specialized exercise regiment
• Bunionectomy, a surgery to remove the bunion and realign the foot (this is only necessary in the most extreme of cases)

Concerned? Contact Us

If you feel that bunions are disrupting your life, then take the pro-active approach and schedule an appointment at our office to learn how to regain your health.

From climbing steps with heavy groceries to those intense weekend runs, our feet take quite the beating. So no wonder that as many as 25 percent of people have bunions, according to WebMD. While this is a condition more commonly found in women than men, anyone can develop this common foot deformity. From the office of our Danbury, CT, podiatrists Dr. Joseph Treadwell, Dr. Christian Davis, and Dr. Rihamary Jimenez, here are ways to reduce bunion pain without resorting to surgery,

Take Over-the-Counter Painkillers

For those moments when bunion pain really sets in and makes it difficult to get around you may want to turn to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication such as ibuprofen, which can temporarily alleviate both pain and swelling. While this won’t fix the problem it can ease symptoms after a particularly busy or active day.

Wear Bunion Pads

Since your bunion sticks out further than the rest of your foot it’s prone to calluses. To prevent shoes from rubbing against the bunion and causing discomfort, apply a non-medicated bunion pain over the area before wearing shoes. This can protect the skin and prevent irritation.

Choose Sensible Shoes

While the verdict is still out as to whether or not high heels cause bunions, the fact remains that wearing high heels, shoes with pointed toes, and shoes that bunch up toes can exacerbate the problem. To give your feet the support they need opt for shoes with a wide toe box and with heels that are no more than 2 inches tall.

Place Orthotics into Your Shoes

Orthotics or shoe inserts are placed within the shoes to help improve the alignment of the bones in the foot. It can also take pressure off the bunion to reduce pain and swelling. Our Danbury, CT, podiatrists can create custom orthotics that specifically fit the structure of your feet to reduce bunion pain and other foot problems.

Serving the New Britain, Bristol, Southington, Farmington, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield, CT, areas, and with offices in Plainville, Danbury, and New Milford, CT, Foot and Ankle Specialists of Connecticut can provide you with the foot and ankle care you are looking for. Call our podiatrists today.

Metatarsalgia denotes a common foot condition characterized by pain and inflammation of the joints and bones of the ball of the foot - the area just before the toes, also called the metatarsal region.

Symptoms of metatarsalgia can develop suddenly, especially after an increase in exercise or high-impact activities, but normally the problems develop over time. Common symptoms of metatarsalgia include:

• Sharp, aching or burning pain in the ball of your foot - the part of the sole just behind the toes
• Pain that intensifies when you stand, walk or run
• Pain that radiates from the balls of the feet into the toes
• Numbness or tingling in the toes
• A feeling in your feet as if you are walking with a pebble in your shoe
• Pain that increases when walking barefoot

Sometimes a single factor can trigger metatarsalgia. More often, multiple factors contribute to the pain, including:

• Over-training or Over-activity. Extensive training and high-impact sports, especially running, places an abnormal amount of stress on the balls of the feet, causing irritation, inflammation and pain.
• Other foot disorders. High arches, hammertoes, bunions, stress fractures and Morton's neuroma can all trigger metatarsalgia symptoms.
• Poor-fitting footwear. High heels, narrow-toed shoes and shoes without adequate padding can all contribute to metatarsal problems.
• Excess weight. Extra weight places excess pressure on your metatarsals.
• Aging. The fat pads on the metatarsals thin out as a person ages, diminishing the ability of the metatarsal bones to protect themselves.

Although generally not serious, metatarsalgia can disrupt your day to day activities, and when left untreated can lead to additional pain in your unaffected foot, back or hips. Treatment to eliminate metatarsalgia symptoms can be as simple as resting, icing the affected area and wearing proper-fitting shoes to significantly reduce swelling and ease pain.

When conservative treatments aren't effective and pain persists, visit our practice for a full exam and a proper diagnosis. In most cases, metatarsalgia can be treated non-surgically. An experienced podiatrist may prescribe specially-designed orthotics or shock-absorbing insoles and arch supports to prevent and minimize future problems with metatarsalgia.