Bunions are bumps on the side of your feet that can develop for a number of reasons. They can be very painful, restrict range of motion, decrease tolerance to walking and other activities. What exactly are they though?
A bunion is also known as hallux valgus. This occurs when there is a deviation of the first metatarsal medially and the first phalanx to move laterally. Which forms a bump on the side of the big toe.
Tight shoes, arthritis and injuries can cause that bump to develop. Sometimes there isn't an obvious cause of a bunion.
First off, try switching shoes to something with a roomier toe box. This gives your bones room to move around! Think of a ballerina's point shoe v a pair of crocks. Very different compression!
Next you can try a wearable tool that helps with the alignment of the toe. Initially it might feel a little weird but after wearing it 1-2 days, you should start to notice some improvement.
Don't forget ice! Especially if you've been up on your feet all day, a moldable icepack around the big toe and foot will feel wonderful. Be mindful of your sensitivity to cold and keep a thin layer between the skin and ice pack.
Your physical therapist can help through manual therapy within the arch of the foot, joint mobilizations to the big toe and assess generally mobility in the foot and ankle. If there are other areas of restriction, it can affect the surrounding joints. This will also help decrease tension and tenderness in the foot area that accompanies a bunion.
Finally, your PT will help address foot and ankle strengthening. This can look like a variety of different exercises, but will be sure to target the foot intrinsics. Towel scrunches, arch doming exercises, and even toe extension are fair game.
If you have bunion pain reach out to our office today!