Risk Factors for Bunions and Bunionettes
Bunions don’t appear out of thin air. Some bunion-burdened feet were stressed or overworked, and some were just genetically unfortunate. You don’t have to go about your days with uncertainty about your susceptibility to bunions – if you know your risk factor, you can be aware and preventative. And we can help you out.
A bunion – also called hallux valgus – is most likely to occur in women, African Americans, seniors, those with pes planus (flat foot) and those with osteoarthritis in the knee and/or hip, according to PubMed.gov.
A study called Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project led by Dr. Yvonne Golightly, observed a group of 1,695 participants in rural North Carolina to study long term effects of musculoskeletal injury of the lower extremity. Among some of the ailments Dr. Golightly studied were; arthritis, limb length inequality, and hallux valgus. The mean age of the subjects was 68 years old. Women composed 67 percent of participants, and 30 percent of the 68 were African American.
Sixty-four percent of the total sample had bunions. Bunion prevalence in specific demographics was as follows:
- African-American men: 69 percent
- African-American women: 70 percent
- Caucasian men: 54 percent
- Caucasian women: 65 percent
Only Caucasian men and African-American women experienced significant aching and stiffness in their feet in association with bunions.
Unfortunately, because the median age of study participants was relatively high, the study couldn’t pinpoint causal factors for their hallux valgus. However, if you fall in a category which makes you high-risk for contracting bunions, you should keep some preventative measures in mind:
- Wear roomy shoes with wide, deep toe boxes
- Avoid rolling your foot inward excessively
- Avoid high heels and pointy shoes (they crowd your toes together, putting excessive pressure on them)
- Wear supportive shoes
- Use arch supports
- If you’re at particularly high risk, you may consider custom-made shoe inserts
- Perform bunion exercises, such as picking up small objects with your toes. It may look silly, but it will also increase flexibility and reduce stiffness in the toe joint.
- Elevate your feet periodically throughout the day to relieve pressure
If you have already begun forming bunions, it’s not too late to try preventative measures. Many doctors recommend toe splints to reduce pressure and lower risk for bunion pain and growth. For example, Bunion Bootie can temporarily realign the big toe to relieve pressure, reduce pain and may prevent bunions from worsening.
So if you find yourself in a subgroup at high risk for hallux valgus, don’t worry! Your options are boundless with a preventative mindset.