How Does a Bunion Develop?
What is a Bunion
When too much pressure is applied to the joint and tendon that connects the big toe to the foot, the joint (metarsophalangeal joint), in some individuals, becomes distorted and deformed. This doesn't happen overnight, however. It takes years of pressure to the joint for a bunion to develop.
Bunions and Genetics
Some people are genetically predisposed to developing bunions because their soft tissue muscles, tendons and ligaments are lax. As a result, the big toe begins to shift in the direction of the little toe thus causing the base of the big toe joint, to bulge and show the tell-tale bunion bump.
Lifestyle and Bunions
Lifestyle plays a large part in contributing to the formation of a bunion. Dancers who spend much of their day wearing high heal shoes performing dances steps apply additional pressure on the toe joint thus contributing to bunion development.
Women are more prone to develop a bunion then men as women tend to were high heeled shoes which cause the body's weight to apply pressure to the joint. Additionally, pointy-toed shoes tend to force the big toe to lean in the direction of the smaller toes, creating the perfect environment day after day for bunion formation.
Symptoms of a Bunion
Aside from the obvious visual bump at the base of the big toe joint, bunions can cause pain, selling and redness in the area. The results of having a bunion can range from a mild embarrassment and discomfort to pain and difficulty in walking. Sometimes the formation of a bunion causes the big toe to rest and rub on the adjacent toe, giving rise to a protective corn on the adjacent toe. The bunion and corn cause pain and discomfort.
Bunion Treatment
Many women are forced to change their style in shoes. Once a bunion becomes too large or painful to fit in high-heeled shoes, bunion suffers trade in high-heeled shoes for comfortable low healed shoes that accommodate the bunion.
If the change in shoe style is not sufficient to remedy the problem, bunion suffers have the option of visiting a Podiatrist. A Podiatrist can prescribe orthotics in an attempt to correct the deformity or inject steroids to reduce the swelling and inflammation surrounding the joint.
A final, and more invasive method of treating a bunion is through surgery. Doctors surgically realign the joint and remove or realign the soft tissue surrounding the joint to help relieve the pain and return the toe to its proper place.
Tags: pressure joint, base joint, bunion suffers, cause pain, formation bunion