14 Natural Ways to Stop Bunions from Getting Worse

Do you have a bony growth growing on the outside or underside of your big toe? – It could very well be the start of a bunion. Bunions occur due to stress on the joint of the big toe – most commonly caused by wearing improper footwear that compresses the toes, such as high-heel shoes. Most high-heels have pointy toe-boxes that squeeze the toes together, creating joint distress in the toes.

Bunions cause sensations of discomfort and pain as the condition progresses. If left untreated and unmanaged, bunions will start to limit e range of motion in your big toe, and symptoms of inflammation begin to spread to other regions of the foot.

Bunions slowly spread the bones of the foot apart, resulting in pain and inflammation. Here are eight tips you can use to prevent the progression of bunions and minimize the impact of pain and swelling symptoms associated with the condition.

1.  Orthotics

People with structural and posture issues could end up developing bunions. Those individuals with flat feet or fallen arches place extra stress on the ankles and heel bones when walking or standing.  The lack of arch support forces the knees to move inward toward each other, resulting in a bow-effect that damages the joints of the hips, knees, and ankles. Women are at a higher risk of developing bowed legs because their hips are wider than men.

Structural and posture issues create an ideal environment for the development of bunions.  When people with flat feet or women with wide hips walk, they place extra pressure on the inside of the foot, resulting in a thinning of the heel pad and pressure on the ankle joint which leads to the formation of a bunion.  

Treating flat feet requires teaching the affected individual how to walk correctly, lifting the arch of the foot to allow for proper alignment of the joints and ligaments. It’s a significant challenge and requires a podiatrist to fit the person for orthotics that support the foot in the correct posture when walking.