Bunions

What is it?

A bunion is a swelling at the joint at the base of the big toe, a deformity known as ‘hallux valgus’. It causes the big toe to angle towards the smaller toes.

What causes it?

• Badly fitting footwear – shoes which are too tight, pointed, and high-heeled shoes
• Family genes – bunions can be hereditary where there is a genetic tendency to have weakness in the big toe joint
• Arthritis – this condition can cause or worsen a bunion
• Occupational strain – too much stress can be put on your foot if your job involves standing all day, and this may result in bunion formation

Symptoms

• Pain – can be mild to severe
• Difficulty in walking as a result of the pain
• Swelling and inflammation
• Wide feet – it can become very difficult to find footwear to fit as a result
• Stiffness of the big toe
• Corns on the smaller toes due to compression and rubbing from footwear
• Ingrown toe nails in the smaller toes

Treatment

• Wear good footwear – shoes need to fit well and have enough room to accommodate the feet to prevent compression
• You should avoid wearing high-heels or pointed shoes
• Padding around the bunion may alleviate the pain caused by shoes rubbing the area
• Surgery – this would be a last resort for those with severe bunions, and if non-surgical treatments have failed to relieve the symptoms

See our Comfort shoes that can help to relieve the symptoms of bunions.

For advice on products available from Salts Techstep to treat bunions please call us on 0121 333 2099.

Important: We always recommend that you visit a HPC* registered chiropodist/podiatrist who can advise you on diagnosis and taking care of your feet. To find one of our recommended practitioners have a look at the Recommended Practices section of our website.

*Health Professional Council www.hpc-uk.org.