What are Bunions?

Bunions are one of the most common foot problems and affect more than half of the women in America. Though bunions can occur due to genetics, the most common cause is wearing high heels and shoes that are too tight or narrow. Nine out of ten bunions occur in women. They are often diagnosed in pronated feet (flat feet), due to instability that causes body weight to be shifted to the first toe — also known as the hallux — when walking.

The foot’s dependence on the hallux can allow some muscles of the foot to become stronger than others and overpower them, causing the foot to deform. Bunions begin as painful, swollen areas most often found on the inner foot near the base of the first toe. Hallux abductovalgus happens when the hallux pulls away from the foot and twists so that a protrusion if formed at the base of the toe and the toe itself points inward. In addition to the deformity of the foot, this disease is also characterized by swelling, soreness, redness and inflammation.