Do Your Shoes Actually Give You Bunions?

What’s a bunion? And what are the causes?.

A bunion is a painful, bony bump that develops on the inner side of the foot at the big toe joint. Bunions are medically known as hallux valgus.

It develops when your big toe starts to angle towards one’s second toe. It really can be painful and disfiguring, making one feel self-conscious in sandals and uncomfortable in fitted shoes.

Bunion Symptoms

If you have a bunion, you may experience;
1. Swelling of the big toe joint
2. Difficulty finding shoes that fit
3. Difficulty walking
4. A fluid-filled space called a bursa also may develop under your skin.
In this area, due to inflammation it can be painful.

Why Are Shoes Blamed for Bunions?.

Is it in some ways hereditary?Or perhaps contagious?.

Let’s take a look at the evidence;

While it’s true that poor shoe choices can cause their share of trouble, they are Not necessarily the cause mainly. It may be more apt to consider them an accomplice to the crime instead of the mastermind.

What causes bunions?

The exact cause of bunions is unknown. Bunions are acquired deformities, but can also run in families. Bunions can be caused by some medical condition such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis or neuromuscular diseases which affect the skeletal system of the body.

There is evidence that people can inherit a tendency to develop bunions. However, it doesn’t always follow that if one’s parents or grandparents have bunions, one will have them, too.

Women more commonly experience bunions more than men. This may be because the ligaments in the foot are usually looser in women than men, and it isn’t contagious.

 

The other reason behind bunions is poor foot function, like collapsed arches or flat feet, in otherwise healthy people.

People of all ages and fitness levels can get bunions. However, it is more common in women and older individuals.

Why shoes may still play a role;

Shoes do aggravate bunion development, if your genetics make you susceptible to them. Tight shoes or those that are too small can crowd your toes together and put pressure on your big toe.

High heels or pointy-toed shoes can force your toes to squeeze together, which may also accelerate bunion development.

Bunion management;

You may not be able to prevent bunion development altogether, but you can relieve the pain and pressure on the toe joint that contributes to their development.

Maintaining a healthy weight helps keep pressure off the toe joints. Protect the bunion with special adhesive pads, available at drugstores.

These help reduce friction and pressure, which can cause pain.
Non-surgical treatment involves switching to shoes that fit properly and do not compress the toes. The use of protective bunion-shield silicone pads that help cushion the painful area over the bunion is recommended. Custom-made shoe inserts called orthotics could be used to align the big toe.

In some cases, a splint is worn at night that places the big toe in a more upright position to help relieve pain. Swelling could be reduced by applying ice packs.

The type of shoes you wear also may affect the development of a bunion. If you wear narrow or high-heeled shoes, this puts extra strain on the bones and muscles in your foot. It could also compress your toes together and forcing your big toe to point towards your other toes.

You should try to wear shoes with a slight heel elevation, wide shoes with laces or an adjustable strap that fits you properly.
Also choose shoes with a low heel and a wide toe box where you can wiggle your toes comfortably.