Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
🚨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
Patient guide to bunions—understanding the bump at the base of your big toe, why it develops, conservative treatments like shoes and orthotics, and surgical options if needed. Learn about recovery, realistic expectations, and preventing progression.
📖What is Bunions (Hallux Valgus)?
Patient guide to bunions—understanding the bump at the base of your big toe, why it develops, conservative treatments like shoes and orthotics, and surgical options if needed. Learn about recovery, realistic expectations, and preventing progression.
🔬What Causes It?
- A bunion develops when your big toe pushes against your second toe, forcing the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out.
- The medical term 'hallux valgus' means the big toe (hallux) angles away from the midline (valgus).
- **Genetics**: The strongest factor—bunions run in families. If your mother or grandmother had bunions, you have a 60-70% chance of developing them.
- **Foot structure**: Inherited flat feet, excessive flexibility of the first metatarsal, or a long first metatarsal bone predispose to bunions.
- **Biomechanics**: Abnormal walking pattern or foot mechanics that place excessive stress on the big toe joint.
- **Neuromuscular conditions**: Cerebral palsy, stroke, or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (muscle imbalance causes deformity).
- **Important**: Tight shoes and high heels do NOT cause bunions but can make existing bunions more symptomatic and may accelerate progression.
⚠️Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- **Family history**: 60-70% hereditary, autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance
- **Female gender**: Women are 10 times more likely than men (hormones affect ligament laxity)
- **Flat feet (pes planus)**: Collapsed arch increases stress on big toe joint
- **Hypermobile first ray**: Excessive motion in first metatarsal bone
- **Long first metatarsal**: Longer bones experience more stress
- **Tight, narrow, or high-heeled shoes**: Aggravate symptoms but don't cause bunions
- **Inflammatory arthritis**: Rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis can accelerate deformity
- **Neuromuscular conditions**: Muscle imbalance leads to progressive deformity
- **Age**: Deformity tends to progress over decades
🛡️Prevention
- ✓**Choose appropriate footwear**: Wide toe box, low heels (less than 2 inches), good arch support
- ✓**Avoid high heels and pointed shoes**: Won't prevent bunions but reduce symptoms and may slow progression
- ✓**Maintain healthy weight**: Reduces stress on feet
- ✓**Use orthotics if you have flat feet**: May slow progression in early stages
- ✓**Address foot mechanics early**: If you have flexible flat feet, see a podiatrist
- ✓**Strengthen foot muscles**: Toe exercises may help maintain foot mechanics
- ✓**Monitor for progression**: Take photos yearly to track changes
- ✓**Realistic expectations**: If you have strong family history, you'll likely develop bunions regardless of precautions—focus on symptom management