How Can Bunions Be Prevented From Getting Worse?
How to Prevent Bunions from Worsening
What Exactly Is A Bunion?
“Hallux Abducto Valgus,” or simply “Hallux Valgus,” is the medical word for a bunion. A hump on the inner or medial side of the foot, directly behind the big toe on the first metatarsal head, with a corresponding angulation of the big toe toward the second toe, is a malformation of the big toe area of the foot. The big toe can sometimes overlap or even go under the second toe. The “lump” is actually the first metatarsal head, which has moved outwards, enlarging the first metatarsal. Furthermore, the hump may expand as a result of irritation caused by shoe pressure. Bunions can cause pain, poor shoe fitting, and balance challenges due to biomechanical abnormalities in the foot caused by the altered anatomy, among other issues.
What Causes Bunions to Form?
Bunions are typically caused by genetic/congenital biomechanical abnormalities in the foot. Bunions are routinely passed down from generation to generation, especially in women. Because women’s joints and ligaments, especially those in the foot, are more flexible, they are more prone to bunions. Any biomechanical defects are amplified as a result of the increased motion, resulting in bone displacement and bunions. Due to the requirement of giving birth, women’s ligaments are more flexible. Women’s shoes might also be a problem. While shoes do not cause bunions, they might exacerbate the underlying biomechanical issues. Dress shoes, high heels, pointed toe boxes, slip-on shoes, and other types of footwear are all to blame. The impacts of shoes will be covered later in this article. Bunion formation can also be exacerbated by arthritis and other joint and connective tissue problems.
Bunions and How to Prevent Them
Bunions cannot be prevented, to put it simply. The rate of creation and degree of deformity, on the other hand, can be influenced and slowed. Bunions are impossible to avoid as soon as we put on shoes, especially ones that are poorly built. The fundamental biomechanical abnormalities that we are born with are strong and difficult to change. We substantially affect the structure and biomechanics of the foot once we put shoes on at a young age. It’s similar to orthodontia for teeth. Shoes apply pressure on the forefoot right away, squeezing the toes together and pressing the big toe inward, altering the anatomy, including bone shape and cartilage position. Photographs of feet in certain countries that do not wear shoes reveal feet that are strikingly different from those who do. The toes are divided in a fashion that resembles a hand when they are not wearing shoes. Good shoes, which are created with the foot and biomechanics in mind, will have little effect.
Although it is impossible to prevent bunions, shoes can and do influence the severity of the structural changes that occur during bunion formation and the symptoms that accompany them. The bigger the deformity is, the more the shoe presses the big toe toward the second toe and allows excessive motion. Shoes with a narrow pointed toe box are a big component. Unfortunately, many women’s shoes are designed in this manner for the sake of “fashion.” High heels are especially harmful because they press the foot into an abnormal biomechanical position and jam the forefoot and big toe into the floor, causing the foot to shift its position.
Excessive mobility in the foot is one of the main causes of bunions, and it is one of the reasons why more women develop bunions. Overpronation is one of the causes of excessive motion. Pronation is a natural loosening motion that the foot goes through as we walk and stand. Pronation is the inward rolling of the foot and the lowering of the arch. This provides for shock absorption and terrain adaptability, allowing the foot to cope with uneven surfaces. Many foot disorders are caused by excessive pronation. With orthotics in the shoes, we can correct overpronation and the extra motion it causes. IDEASTEP makes a well-made over-the-counter orthotic that supports the arch, controls pronation, aligns the foot, and corrects the gait. In my clinic, I employ a lot of these, and they’ve helped a lot of my patients. A real hard custom orthotic is necessary in more severe situations. Although there is no definitive proof, many podiatrists believe that using orthotics early on can dramatically reduce the severity of bunions and decrease their progression.
IDEASTEP offers a variety of orthotic insoles to accommodate a variety of shoes and activities. Click here to learn more and see the collection.
Bunions and Shoes
Shoes, in addition to orthotics, are a significant role in the development and severity of bunions. Shoes with a tiny or pointed toe box, as mentioned above, are a primary contributor in speeding up and exacerbating bunion formation. The finest bunion shoes should include the following characteristics:
• Bunions require shoes with a large, round, and high toe box. Less pressure on the big toe is preferable. The toe box of IDEASTEP shoes is quite round and deep, with plenty of room. I wear them because they are comfortable and because members of my family have suffered from severe bunions, and I suffer from excessive pronation and motion, both of which can lead to bunions.
• If you already have bunions, round toe boxes with extra depth for the big toe, frequently over or under the second toe, are the ideal shoes for bunions. Extra-deep shoes are also important for increasing stability and reducing motion, and they can readily accommodate orthotics.
• Bunions need the use of broad or extra-wide shoes. Most shoes sold at big box stores today come in only one width, which is usually medium, which is far too narrow for a bunioned foot. The good news is that speciality footwear businesses like IDEASTEP create shoes in a wide range of widths, from narrow to very wide! Bunion pain alleviation can often be as simple as wearing bigger shoes with a round toe box. Here’s how IDEASTEP shoes can help relieve bunion pain.
• The material of the shoes is especially important for bunions-prone foot. Shoes made of tight, unforgiving materials put pressure on the bunion, aggravating the problem and causing pain. Shoes with stretch knit uppers, on the other hand, have four-way stretch and adjust to the curves of your foot, particularly the bunion, to provide a pressure-free fit. Supple leathers are also a good option. Many of my patients with bunions wear these after failing to fit into most other shoes. IDEASTEP makes a variety of shoes that stretch and fit even the most severe bunions. Click here to see the IDEASTEP stretchy bunions shoes.
• Shoes for bunions should have a low heel or be flat to the ground, rather than heels, which force the forefoot into the floor. The ergonomic sole of IDEASTEP shoes has a modest rocker bottom that aids in foot motion and evenly distributes weight from the rearfoot to the forefoot.
How To Stretch Your Shoes To Get Rid Of Bunions
Although stretching shoes to accommodate a bunion is not my first choice and is ineffective in treating and preventing bunions, some people like it. On the IDEASTEP website, there is a fantastic blog titled “How to Make Shoes Wider for Bunions.” The blog provides advice on how to accommodate bunions at home and thereby lessen foot bunion pain. However, take note of the following paragraph:
While stretching your shoes can help, the best solution for people with bunions is to purchase bunion-specific shoes, such as IDEASTEP’s bunion shoes, which feature a wide toe box, soft stretchable uppers, and special orthotic insoles that provide arch support, reduce overpronation, and help straighten the toes. You may get women’s shoes for bunions, walking shoes for bunions, the best bunions shoes for men, and any other shoe for bunions at IDEASTEP, including extra-wide women’s shoes for bunions.
The “ball and ring stretcher” is the one functional gadget I have in the office for accommodating the huge bump of the bunion on the side of the foot. The toe box is only pushed out in one place, right over the bump, by this mechanism. Most podiatrists have this technology, and if you bring your shoes in, they will be able to stretch them.
Alternatives to Bunion Surgery
If you have a bunion, it’s critical to reduce pain and provide relief. For people with mild forms of the disease, there are other choices.
• Bunions Socks: While bunions socks can not prevent bunions, they can provide additional benefits such as separating the big toe from the other toes. This prevents the toes from rubbing against each other and causing irritation. These socks are also available from IDEASTEP and are quite pleasant, as they are constructed of soft bamboo fibers, have a non-binding fit, and wick moisture away from the foot.
• Bunion Pads: If you want to protect your bunion from anything that rubs against it, you can use bunion pads. It’s worth noting that some pads contain acid, which can cause skin irritation. These should not be used! Protective pads that are simple to use will suffice.
For more information and assistance with bunions, consult your podiatrist. In the worst-case scenario, surgery can permanently correct bunions. The only true bunion corrector is surgery, which goes to the source of the problem.
Bunions are fairly prevalent, and I hope that this article has given you some insight into how to cope with them.
I recommend reading the following blogs for further information about bunions:
