Hallux Valgus (Bunion)

Hallux valgus, is a common foot deformity, which is particularly prevalent among
women. The likelihood of developing bunion increases with age. Bunion can cause difficulty in wearing
shoes and pain in the toes. People with bunion may have difficulty walking long distance, in severe case it
can be too painful to walk, especially when it indirectly results in other systemic symptoms or diseases
over time, if not attended to.

A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place. This causes the tip of your big toe to get pulled
toward the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out. The skin over the bunion might be red and sore. Bunion may start out as a minor annoyance, but then becomes a bigger
problem when shoes start rubbing on the bump, resulting in pain. If the bunion is allowed to progress unabated, the great toe joint can actually start to dislocate and then your minor pain will progress and
you may start to experience significant joint pain and degeneration.

Risk Factor

Bunions are acquired deformities, but can also run in families. Bunions are most often caused by an
inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain
foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion. Many people do not experience symptoms
in the early stages of bunion formation. Symptoms are often most noticeable when the bunion gets
worse and with certain types of footwear. These include shoes that crowd the toes and/or high-heeled
shoes.
60% of those who develop bunion have a family history of ligamentous laxity, rheumatoid, arthritis or
neuromuscular disease. The other is people with bunions caused by poor foot function, such as
collapsed arches or flat feet.

Bunions is particularly common among young women, especially working class, young female students,
flight air stewardess, promoters and retail sales women. Ladies who develop bunions often wear high
heels or ill-fitting shoes, causing long-term compression and friction on the feet, resulting in dislocation
of the heel or big toe, or injury of the heel ligaments, causing the big toe to bend laterally.
Those with flat feet often have hallux valgus, which is related to weakness of the arch muscles. When
the arch muscle is weak, the pressure exerted on the sole of the foot while walking is being diverted to
the big toe, and the big toe bends outward under pressure. When the elderly develop hallux valgus, it is
mostly caused by joint degeneration or muscle weakness.

How to prevent ?

In order to prevent or manage hallux valgus, we have to wear comfortable shoes and avoid high heels
that is higher than 2 cm; do foot exercises such as standing on the toes or stretching of the toes
regularly, so as to strengthen the toe muscle and the arch; and wearing orthopedic insoles or fitting
shoes with support.

people with hallux valgus and flat feet can wear an insole that elevates the arch and hence
provide more support. As for people whose other toes are squeezed due to the bending of the big toe
joint, they can also try to wear the big toe correction sleeve, which can relieve pain and prevent
deterioration.

Happy Walker orthopedic insole

Happy Walker is the largest local foot care retail chain, providing one-stop foot care services. It has its
own Singapore laboratory, staff with the most experienced laboratory technicians, equipped with 3D
laser scanner, who have served more than 50,000 satisfied customers. Happy Walker is your ideal choice
for custom-made orthopedic insoles.

The orthopedic insoles tailor-made by Happy Walker can provide overall support for your arch and help
balance your body’s weight. It can improve more than 10 kinds of foot problems including hallux valgus
and flat feet, it can also relief knee pain, lower back pain or spinal problem caused by foot deformities

By Grace Lee
The Epoch Times