Ever wondered what that bump on your foot is? It may be a bunion!
Bunions are a bump that forms at the joint at the base of your big toe. They can vary in size and get bigger over time. You will notice that this bump causes your big toe to move towards your second toe.
Here are my top 3 tips on how to prevent bunions:
1. Correct fitting footwear
It is really important that you make sure there is enough room for all your toes in your shoe. You want to avoid having to squish them together, this will encourage the formation of a bunion.
The easiest way to tell if your shoe is wide enough is to place your foot on the sole of your shoe. You should be able to see all the edges of your shoes. If you can’t see the edges of your shoes, especially around your toes, it means the shoe is not wide enough for you.
Avoid high heels- these put extra pressure on you big toe joints.
2. Exercises
There are some nice and simple exercises that strengthen the smaller muscles in your feet and keep you big toe straight:
- Towel scrunches
- Picking up marbles
- Toe yoga
3. Walking pattern
Make sure that you are getting the most out of your walking.
When we are walking and looking at taking our foot off the ground, we should be getting 90 degrees of movement through our big toe.
Keeping this joint as functional as possible will prevent the joint deteriorating.
Your Podiatrist can assess your walking pattern and make suggestions on how to best get the movement. They are also able to use orthotics to increase the movement.
Hope that you have found this blog helpful and if you have any questions or would like more information about how to prevent bunions, please feel free to contact me or book an appointment online.
Marney Cowell
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