Use Orthopedics to Avoid Bunions
Bunions that cause only minor discomfort or pain can be controlled through the use of orthopedics in addition to proper footwear. In many cases, early conservative treatment, using orthotics, can stop bunions from worsening to the point that surgery is required to control or correct them. Read on to learn use orthopedics to avoid bunions.
Instructions
1. Get proper shoes. In general, you should avoid shoes that are pointed or tapered at the toe, shoes that constrict your feet and shoes that are too short. Instead, choose shoes with a generous and ample toe box and a wide breadth that allows your foot to breathe. Your podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon can give you more specific suggestions.
2. Use a bunion regulator. These overnight-use orthotic devices gently stretch out your toe muscles and tendons, helping to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by a bunion. They can often prevent bunions from getting so bad that surgery is required to fix them.
3. Try using a bunion splint. This orthopedic device is worn inside the shoe and helps to keep your toes separated by redistributing pressure on your foot. Alternatively called bunion braces, these devices keep pressure properly distributed along the arch and ball of your foot.
4. Insert a bunion cushion into your shoe in the toe region, giving your bunion a softer place to land while walking. Sometimes called bunion shields or bunion pads, these cushions protect bunions from irritation while you walk. For smaller bunions that you want to prevent from worsening, a bunion sleeve (which is a similar but smaller device) might do the trick.
5. Place a heel cup inside your shoe to ensure a proper fit that minimizes irritation on your foot while helping to keep pressure distribution where it ought to be. These inserts are recommended for people who have not yet developed bunions, but have significant risk of getting them.
6. Use gelled toe spacers or toe regulators, as directed by your orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist, to keep toes from cramping together. These inserts also stretch out the tendons and muscles in your toes, helping to ease the pain caused by bunions and stop them from getting worse.
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