Bunions on Feet – Review of Causes
Bunions are the most common cause of foot pain. Before we discuss what causes bunions, let’s answer the following important question:
WHAT IS A BUNION EXACTLY? The unsightly bump you can see and feel on the side of your foot is what people generally refer to as a bunion. But the bump is only there because of what has gone on inside your foot…which is abnormal bone formation around the big toe joint which causes the big toe to bend toward the other toes.
The medical term for this condition is hallux valgus. The abnormal bone formation is often coupled with soft tissue enlargement consisting of a fluid-filled sac under the skin. 
It is this enlargement that you see as a bump – or bunion – on the side of your big toe. Usually, this visible appearance of the foot bunion indicates that the abnormal bone formation has significantly progressed.
HEREDITY The statement “bunions are inherited” cannot be verified as true or false by a search on the internet. My research indicates that doctors of similar qualifications differ on this issue. However, it is obviously true that some people inherit a kind of bone structure of their foot which may increase their likelihood of developing bunions. Also, the presence of ligaments that are unusually flexible is another inherited trait that has been connected to the development of bunions at some point in a person’s life. In both of these situations, the degree of pressure the foot and toes receive from tight shoes or from lifestyle choices or occupations will increase the likelihood of bunions.
Another particular genetic predisposition is flat feet. Almost all babies are born with flat feet, but most naturally develop arches as they grow into childhood. If your arches did not develop adequately, then you may be more likely to develop bunions on your feet. Early intervention during childhood of this and other abnormal foot conditions can reduce the later occurrence of bunions and other painful health problems.
ARTHRITIS Many people assume that getting older is a major risk factor for getting bunions, but the relationship between these two issues is not so direct. This painful foot problem is indeed associated with the elderly, but that is because bunions can be a by-product of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is most common in females who are over the age of 50, so you see that getting older is a risk factor getting osteoarthritis. If the arthritis affects the joint of the big toe, then a foot bunion can develop. But it is not correct that advancing age only by itself results in bunions on your feet. There’s no reason to assume that your grandmother will get bunions as she ages only because she’s getting older. But if she has osteoarthritis in her feet, then that’s a different story. Indeed, anyone who has osteoarthritis in the feet suffers an increased risk for bunions.
Bunions can also be one of the many by-products of rheumatoid arthritis, a degenerative disease which breaks down the the tissues surrounding the joints in the body, usually beginning with the small joints in the hands and feet. Like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis also affects primarily females (three times more females than males), but this type of arthritis unfortunately is associated with a wider age group than osteoarthritis. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis can be as early as 30 years of age, or even younger. As this painful disease, for which there is no known cure, breaks down the tissues surrounding of the joints in the foot, various foot deformities, such as bunions and hammertoes, often occur. Visit this link from the Arthritis Foundation for more discussion on arthritis and foot care: http://www.arthritis.org/foot-care.php
SHOES Whatever your genetic predisposition, many doctors believe that the type of shoes you wear is the most important factor in determining whether or not you develop bunions. It’s very likely you are a woman if you are reading this, because women suffer ten times more from bunions on feet than men do. Does that give you an idea of the primary cause of this foot problem?
Shoes that are too tight but that we can’t resist wearing anyway because they go so perfectly with a favorite outfit, or shoes our feet were just not designed to fit into…such as high heels….are the main reason for the development of bunions. You may have inherited the type of abnormal bone structure in your feet that predisposes a person to developing bunions, but you could go your whole life without even knowing it or without any kind of foot problem at all. But, if you frequently cram your feet into tight shoes, you are likely to know it soon enough, because those tight shoes are like an open invitation for bunions to develop.
Therefore, your grandmother in her comfortable shoes that give her feet plenty of room may escape having bunions, while you in your 20s or 30s may not. Ladies, no matter how elegant or sexy they are, it’s just a fact that shoes with pointed toes, especially high heels with pointed toes are bad news for your feet. Boots with heels are another type of shoe that can cause foot problems. Think about how high heels and boots are designed. They both have a sloping foot bed and a narrow toe box. The toes get squeezed together because the slope causes the front of the foot to be pushed hard into the narrow toe box. There’s just no way this kind of footwear can be good for your feet. If you can’t resist wearing pointed shoes, high heels or boots with heels, please consider yourself forewarned. At least, cut back on how often you “indulge” in this kind of footwear. You will be doing your feet – and yourself- a favor!
(For stylish, attractive shoes for bunions, do a search for “bunions” at Shoebuy.com.)
LIFESTYLE / OCCUPATIONS Actually, any kind of unnatural pressure on the foot that lasts over an extended period of time can result in bunions. This means that although shoes that are damaging to your feet are the main non-genetic cause of bunions, anyone with an occupation or lifestyle that requires constant pressure on the feet may be prone to this kind of foot problem. Thus, as you can imagine, dancers and athletes are particularly vulnerable. Actually, dancers and athletes are vulnerable to all kinds of foot disorders.
IN CONCLUSION To recap, bunions are an indication of abnormal bone formation around the big toe joint. You may be born with this type of bone structure which will predispose you to bunions. Also, excessive pressure on your feet over time, most often from shoes that are too tight can result in bunions. Occupations that require extended periods of standing or which place unusual stress on your feet such as ballet dancing or athletics, can result in the development of bunions. The two major forms of arthritis discussed above also put a person at high risk for this serious foot problem.
Please check the links in the sidebar for more information about bunions on feet, and the products that can help with bunion pain.
