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Bunion
A bunion is a painful swelling of the soft tissue, and bone enlargement over the inside of the ball of the big toe. Often the big toe will look as if it is bent in towards the other toes or even can lie across them.
Bunion symptoms:
- Bunion symptoms include pain in and around the ball of the big toe. This can be from the bone rubbing too much on the shoes.
- You may be unable to wear certain types of shoes due to the shape of the forefoot.
- The big toe appears to be bent inwards towards and in come cases over the inside toe.
- This is more due to the 1st metatarsal migrating outwards as shown in the image opposite.
- Biomechanical factors can contribute to the development of bunions for example if you pronate (foot rolls in or flattens) excessively.
- Wearing high heeled shoes regularly increases the risk of developing bunions. The pressure on the forefoot is increased considerably as the heel is raised up.
- Age increases the likelihood of developing bunions as the ligaments lose strength as you get older.
Bunion treatment
What can the athlete do?
- Separate the big toe and the next one with a 1 cm thick piece of foam, or try a bunion splint.
- Try a bunion taping technique to support the joint and relieve the pressure.
- Shield the bunions by cutting a hole for it in a piece of padding.
- Wear off the shelf orthotic insoles to help correct the biomechanical problems in the foot which may be causing the bunion pain.
- See a sports injury specialist or podiatrist who will do a gait analysis, diagnose the injury and have specialist orthotic devices made.
What can a doctor or therapist do?
- A podiatrist is a therapist who specialises in feet. They can make orthotic devices for your feet and in bad cases can refer you for an bunion surgery if indicated. Bunion surgery to realign the joint is a last resort if conservative treatment has failed.
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