A bunion is a deformity of the big toe. People with a bunion have an outward-facing big toe and a lump on the inside of the foot. As the bunion becomes more protruding, it can develop pain. Here’s what causes bunions and what can be done if you have a bunion.
Causes of Bunions
Bunions are a common problem that causes foot pain and difficulty in wearing shoes. Bunions occur in about 30% of the population in most of the Western countries. They are more common in women and become even more common with increasing age.
Genetic Characteristics
Genetics plays an important role in the development of this problem and people with a family history of bunions are more likely to have bunions than those without. The shape and structure of your feet are the biggest factors in developing bunions. Since you inherit them from your parents, there is nothing you can do if you are at high risk of developing this problem due to genetic factors.
A study reveals that 83 percent of those with bunions had a family history of bunions. In a similar proportion, bunions were found in both feet, suggesting that the shape and function of the feet increases the risk of bunions.
Shoe Preferences
Shoes that fit tightly around the foot are considered to be the cause of bunions in most patients. High heels or cowboy boots particularly damage the toes. Such shoes have a curved sole and a narrow toe box (the molded part in the toe of the shoe). This curve causes the front of the foot to be forcibly pushed into the narrow toe box, causing the toes to be squeezed.
Depending on factors such as the duration of wearing shoes that squeeze the foot, skeletal maturity and individual factors, the toes adapt to the new position, which leads to the deformation we know as a bunion.
Injuries and Inflammatory Disorders
Shoes are not the only cause of bunions. Foot injuries and wounds can also be a factor in developing a bunion. People with rheumatoid arthritis are also more prone to bunions, as are people with neuromuscular disorders such as polio.
Contributing Factors
Many people with bunions have a combination of health factors that predispose them to this condition. For example, women older than forty who have a family history of bunions and who often wear high-heeled shoes are considered likely to develop bunions.
How Much Does Footwear Affect the Development of Bunions?
It is difficult to know how important footwear is in the development of bunions, but we do know that it is the one variable we can control significantly.These are less common in countries where Western-style shoes are not worn.
Bunions occur in about 3% of the population in non-Western countries. In countries where Western-style shoes are worn, the prevalence of bunions is over 30%. In countries where Western-style shoes have recently been introduced, the prevalence of bunions has reached a level that almost matches the rates in Western countries.
Regardless of whether the shoes are the cause of your bunion, changing them can help reduce your pain if you have a bunion. Opt for shoes with a wide curve with a wider toe box rather than a pointed toe box. Orthoses and bunion pads can also be helpful.
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