Bunions
A bunion is an enlargement at the base of the big toe caused by a mal-alignment of the joint. It may be swollen, tender and painful, especially when wearing shoes.
Statistics
8 out of 1,000 males have a bunion.
38 out of 1,000 females have a bunion.
55 out of 1,000 people aged 65 or older have a bunion.
63% of patients with bunions see a podiatrist.
Causes Of Bunions
Heredity
Biomechanical abnormalities
Neuromuscular disorders
Inflammatory joint disease (arthritis)
Trauma
Congenital deformities
Ill-fitting shoes
What can you do?
Wear a shoe with good support and a wide toe box.
Apply cold compresses.
Soak the foot in lukewarm water to relieve pain.
Use over-the-counter foot pads.
Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatories.
What can a Podiatrist do?
Perform a physical examination of the foot.
Request X-ray, bone scan, CT, MRI or other imaging studies to be ordered by the G.P.
Recommend padding or taping.
Prescribe orthoses as needed.
Perform surgery as indicated.
Source: British Columbia Association of Podiatrist – http://www.foothealth.ca/ Retrieved: 2009-06-01
Image Source: Wikipedia.org – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hallux_Valgus-Aspect_pr%C3%A9_op_d%C3%A9charge.JPG Retrieved: 2009-06-01