Millions of people are walking around right now with a small bump on the outside of their foot on the side of their big toe joint. This condition is called a bunion, and for some they can be asymptomatic, while for others they can be severely debilitating. But why is big toe joint dysfunction so common in today’s society, and more importantly, what can we do about it?
In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why bunions are so common, and how Dr. Silverman can help you treat the issue.
The Driving Force Behind Bunions
A number of different factors can contribute to bunion formation, including an injury to your foot or even a genetic predisposition. That being said, the single biggest driving force behind bunion formation is our footwear. When we wear shoes that don’t fit our feet properly, we can put a lot of extra stress on our feet and our big toe joint. You might be thinking that you wear the right size shoe and that fit isn’t a problem, but it’s less about the shoe size and more about the shoe shape.
For example, arguably the biggest contributor to bunion formation is the high heel. Shoes with a lifted heel and a narrow toe box put an immense amount of pressure on your toe joints, and all this pressure can cause the joint to shift out of position. This shift won’t happen over night, but if you regularly wear heels, your big toe joint can gradually shift out of alignment, leading to the formation of a bony prominence on the outside of your foot at the joint.
And while the condition is more common in women, it’s certainly not isolated to them. Men that wear tight athletic shoes or work boots that don’t conform to their specific foot shape can also eventually develop bunion. Be mindful of the forces you’re putting on your feet when you lift the heel, narrow the toe box or simply try to shove your foot into a shoe that doesn’t fit.
Bunion Treatment
You want to perform regular foot checks to look for the beginning stages of a bunion. While it may not be all that painful at this time, this is also when the condition is most treatable. Symptoms may be managed conservatively, but you’re not going to be able to shift your big toe joint back into a natural position once enough shifting has taken place, so it’s imperative to be proactive. If you ignore the problem, odds are surgery is in your future.
Dr. Silverman has performed countless bunion correction procedures at his clinic, and he’s be more than happy to use minimally invasive techniques to address your bunion and return it to a comfortable and stable position. You can learn more about MIS bunion correction in this short video about the procedure.
Be mindful about your footwear choices, and keep an eye on your feet! If you suspect that you’re dealing with a bunion, make Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot your first call at (952) 224-8500.
