subject: Bunions Are Not Caused By Footwear - Understand How They Develop [print this page] Bunions, though common, are often misunderstood. Complicated, exacerbated, accelerated in their development, the underlying cause of bunions is poor structure and subsequent poor foot function rather than from footwear. An unnatural, bony hump that forms at the base of the big toe where it attaches to the foot, a bunion can often be extremely painful with the big toe deviating toward the other toes. When the big toe deviates toward other toes, the base of the big toe pushes outward on the first metatarsal bone, which is the bone directly behind the big toe, forming a bunion.
What Causes Bunions?
Commonly experienced by women, bunions can develop from an abnormality in foot function, or arthritis, but is more commonly caused by wearing improper fitting footwear. Tight, narrow dress shoes with a constrictive toe box can cause the foot to begin to take the shape of the shoe, leading to the formation of a bunion.
Often referred to as hallux valgus, bunions are one of the most common forefoot problems. A bunion is a prominent bump on the inside of the foot around the big toe joint, which is a bone that protrudes towards the inside of the foot. It is common to find the big toe resting under or over the second toe with continued movement. Some symptoms of bunions include:
*Inflammation
*Swelling
*Soreness on the side surface of the big toe
Finding Relief for your Bunion Pain
The best relief from bunions is prevention, and that means giving your feet a break from the heels. If a bunion begins to form, soaking feet in warm water can provide temporary relief in the early stages. To minimize your chances of developing a bunion, do not force your foot into a shoe that doesn't fit. Improper fitting shoes are the leading cause of bunions and foot pain. Choose shoes that conform to the shape of your foot and do not fit too tightly.
If you already have a bunion, it is important to wear shoes that have enough room as to not put pressure on the bony projection. When a bunion progresses to the point where walking becomes difficult and conservative treatments aren't effective, you may need surgery. A consultation with your podiatrist will be needed for further diagnosis and to develop a proper treatment plan.
Custom orthotics are made from either a 3Dimensional digital or plaster mold of your foot, the shell and angled base of which are specific to your body weight, activity and structural misalignment. Orthotics can be rigid, semi-rigid, and semi-flexible.
The goal of an orthotic is to work in conjunction with appropriate footwear, so that you can be supported in such a way as to enable the muscles controlling your foot structure to regain their mechanical advantage, enabling shock absorption, improved stability/balance, control load distribution and even have a significant influence on overall body posture and alignment.
If you are exhibiting pain in your feet or notice symptoms of a bunion, contact your Mississauga podiatrist/chiropodist for further consultation. Your podiatrist can treat and suggest ways to alleviate and prevent your pain because no pain should go ignored.
