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Podiatrist - Cromwell
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416

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Posts for category: Pediatric Foot Care

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
February 24, 2020

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want our Middlesex county parents to know how to spot foot problems in their children and encourage them to seek treatment promptly. Sometimes children’s foot problems are not so easy to detect. Children, especially younger ones, are not always good at articulating foot pain or discomfort.

Parents may need to employ their sleuthing skills and take note of changes in behavior such as

  • Lagging behind playmates.

  • Expressing reluctance to participate in the physical activities they have previously enjoyed.

  • Vague complaints like “my legs are tired.”

These may all be signs that your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain.

Below are three disorders that occur more frequently in children how to identify them:

  1. Athlete’s Foot—if you see your child frequently scratching their feet, examine the skin on the soles of their feet and between their toes. Dry, red, flaky skin may be a sign of athlete’s foot. If the infection is more advanced, you may also see blisters or oozing. To help prevent your child from contracting athlete’s foot (as well as other fungal infections), be sure that their feet are bathed daily and encourage them not to exchanges shoes or socks with their playmates. Make sure they wear flip-flops or shower shoes at public pools and restrooms.

  2. Structural Abnormalities—it’s important that as your child’s foot grows and develops no abnormal gait or structural issues. Flat feet and in- or out-toeing are common and need to be diagnosed and corrected at their earliest stages to ensure healthy foot development. Depending on the severity of the abnormality, our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, may recommend exercises, a custom orthotic, or night splints/braces to correct the problem.

  3. Sever’s Disease—although your child’s foot bone structure is well-formed by the age of 7 or 8, the growth plate at the back of the heel will not finish fully developing until somewhere around the age of 15. At the back of the heel, there is a vulnerable area where new bone is forming that can become inflamed due to repetitive action from sports and result in severe heel pain. Never tell your child to “play through the pain,” and be sure they have breaks throughout the year between sports seasons.

If you suspect something is not right with your child’s feet, contact our Cromwell office for an appointment today by calling: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
January 02, 2019

Medical diagnoses in children can be tough to deal with for both the parent and the child, especially if it is a condition that will follow the child through their life. One such condition that is congenital – or present at birth – is called clubfoot.

What is clubfoot?

Clubfoot is a general term that is used to describe a foot that is in a permanent unnatural position. The severity can vary from mild to acute and, in nearly half of affected infants, both feet are affected. Any of the following could result in a clubfoot diagnosis:

  • The foot points downwards.
  • The front of the foot is rotated inward towards the other foot.
  • The foot turns in, and in extreme cases, the bottom of the foot points up.

Nowadays, clubfoot can be detected during an ultrasound while the baby is still in utero. That means parents can prepare for treatment even before the baby is born. With early treatment, most children who are born with clubfoot can lead active, healthy lives. Since they’re off their feet, clubfoot is typically painless for babies. However, treatment should start as soon as possible as delayed treatment can lead to significant issues and disabilities as the child develops.

Untreated clubfoot won’t straighten itself out and symptoms will have an increasingly negative impact on the child’s mobility and activity as they grow. Early intervention from medical experts can help overcome those issues.

How is clubfoot treated?

The first line of defense is nonsurgical treatment such as casting or splinting the affected foot. The most widely used treatment is called the Ponseti method, which can begin right after birth. This method stretches the ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons with gentle pressure. After each stretch, a plaster cast is applied. In rare cases of clubfoot, surgery may eventually be the solution. Parents of infants born with clubfoot can rest assured that, with the proper treatment, their baby’s feet will become typical in appearance and function.

Are you expecting an infant with clubfoot? We are here for you at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas keeps up-to-date on all the latest podiatric health issues and can treat podiatric issues for all ages. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
September 05, 2018

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we treat podiatric disorders that are caused or exacerbated by obesity. These issues include complications of diabetes, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, and others. If you’ve got children, you know how important it is to keep them healthy and fit. We have put together three tips to keep your child on the path to a healthy weight for life.

Three tips to fight childhood obesity:

  1. Educate: Teach your children about nutrition and fitness and all the great things that come with a healthy, active lifestyle. Utilize everyday opportunities to point out foods that are healthy, and foods that have damaging levels of sugar and fat. Show your kids news items or documentaries that discuss health conditions caused or affected by weight. Media often covers food and health trends. These could be great jumping-off points to teach your children about how to evaluate what is healthy and what is not.
  2. Slowly swap foods: Gradually make food swaps with your family’s diet. Switch processed, prepackaged foods for whole foods like fruits and veggies. Pick up a healthy cookbook at the library to really spark some ideas. Use smaller plates when serving to exercise portion control. Experiment with cuisines and recipes from other cultures. Instead of frying foods, try cooking them in healthier ways such as broiling, oven roasting, or grilling. You can replace sugar-filled sodas with soda water or seltzer and squeeze in some fresh citrus or other fruit for a refreshing beverage.
  3. Get moving: Set and strictly enforce limits on the amount of time your kids experience “screen time.” Encourage healthy physical activity every single day. Research a sport or activity with your child to get them involved in. If your kid is not participating in sports, you might have to get creative. Have them help with yard work or walk the dog, ride their bike, or set up a basketball hoop in the driveway to get them outdoors and active. It’s great to find activities that you enjoy doing as a family and it sets a great example for your kids. Swimming, hiking, and kayaking are all great activities to try out as a family!

If your kids develop healthy habits and a healthy weight now, they will be more likely to carry that into adulthood. If you have concerns or questions about your kids’ feet, Feet First Foot Care Specialists are here to help! Dr. Adam Mucinskas utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques and cutting-edge treatments at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 02, 2018

Excess weight on a child means the excess weight that their feet have to support. Every time they walk, run, or jump, there is extra weight bearing down on their feet and ankles. Because of that, children who are obese are more likely to experience foot and ankle issues. As obesity rates rise in kids, so does the importance of the parents’ job of keeping their children healthy.

Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas wants you to know the specific foot issues that can come with childhood obesity:

  • Joint pain: The joints in the ankles are strained by excess weight. There’s a heavier impact during running, jumping, or walking, which can cause joints to become painfully misaligned or even affect their growth patterns.
  • Flatfoot: Excessive weight in the body will push downwards on the feet, occasionally causing the arches to flatten. This can pull the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon, which can lead to even more pain in the feet.
  • Sever’s Disease: An inflammation of the heel’s growth plate is called Sever’s Disease. It can be quite painful and can eventually cause developmental foot issues if the growth plate becomes damaged or fractured.
  • Overpronation: This can also be a side-effect of fallen arches from excess weight. Fallen arches can cause the child’s ankles to roll inwards to help stabilize the feet, which the body perceives as off-balance. This can put a strain on the ligaments surrounding the ankles.
  • Blount’s Disease: Obesity can sometimes cause a child’s legs to bow out if their ankles develop incorrectly.

Many of the above issues can be treated but must be caught early for best results. Obesity is on the rise in our children. Not only can it lead to the above foot and ankle issues, but it can also lead to heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. Healthy foods and exercise can put your kid on a path towards a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body.

If you’re concerned about your child’s foot health, the professionals at Feet First Foot Care Specialists can answer any questions you might have. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Cromwell, Connecticut office, request one online, or call us today at 860-632-5499.

 

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By Adam Mucinskas, DPM
May 09, 2018

As your child grows and changes, so do their needs and often your worries. You worry they’re getting the right foods, that they’re brushing their teeth, and that they’re washing their hands properly. The podiatry experts here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists know that you’ve got your hands full, so we’re here to help with one of your child’s biggest needs that can sometimes be a mystery: their feet.

Your child’s feet grow rapidly, just like the rest of their body. Follow these tips through their life stages to ensure excellent foot health through adulthood:

Infancy (birth to 1 year)

  • Inspect your baby’s feet. If you notice something “off” or abnormal, give us a call. Foot deformities do not simply correct themselves if left untreated.
  • Let your baby stay barefoot. Shoes or booties can restrict stretching of the toes, causing abnormal development
  • Let your baby stretch and kick their feet. These motions help prepare the muscles for standing and walking.

Toddler (1 to 3 years)

  • Keep their feet uncovered indoors. Walking barefoot lets their foot muscles grow and strengthen naturally. When walking outdoors, their feet must be protected from rough surfaces. Lightweight, flexible footwear made of natural materials are best for their rapidly growing feet.
  • Watch how they walk. Odd walking styles like persistent toe-walking should be noted. If your kid is limping or tripping, it might be a sign that something else is going on too. A podiatrist can help examine their gait to determine if treatment or therapy is needed.

Child (4 to 8 years)

  • Get your kid’s feet measured regularly. Every type of shoe fits differently, so make sure you take your child shoe shopping with you. This gives them a chance to try on all the options and promotes healthy foot habits later.
  • Continue good footwear practice. Your child is more active at this age and participating in more activities. If they’re swimming or going in a locker room, make sure they wear flip-flops to avoid any fungal or bacterial infections. If it’s snowy, make sure they have proper winter boots. If they’re starting sports activities, make sure they have all the right footwear.

If you follow these tips, it will help your child towards excellent foot health as they mature. If you ever have any questions about, your child’s feet, give us a call here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists. Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help assess your child’s feet and set you on the right path. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Cromwell, CT office, request one online or call us today at 860-632-5499.

 

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416