
In addition, spending long periods of time on your feet can aggravate the symptoms of bunions.īunions are readily apparent – the prominence is visible at the base of the big toe or side of the foot. This may explain why women are more likely to have symptoms than men. Symptoms occur most often when wearing shoes that crowd the toes, such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels. Symptoms, which occur at the site of the bunion, may include: It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion.Īlthough wearing shoes that crowd the toes won’t actually cause bunions, it sometimes makes the deformity get progressively worse.

Symptoms usually appear at later stages, although some people never have symptoms.īunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. They begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bump, which becomes increasingly prominent. This throws the bones out of alignment – producing the bunion’s “bump.”īunions are a progressive disorder.

The big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. The visible bump actually reflects changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. Many people may unnecessarily suffer the pain of bunions for years before seeking treatment.Ī bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus or hallux abducto valgus) is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. Even though bunions are a common foot deformity, there are misconceptions about them.
