Bunions

A bunion is also known as Hallux Valgus. Hallux is the medical term for the "big toe", and valgus is an anatomic term for a deformity that moves in a direction away from the midline of the body. So, when bunions appear, the joint of the big toe begins to point towards the outside of the foot.

A very common foot disorder, bunions can be hereditary or otherwise are a secondary problem originating from fallen cross arches.

When the cross arch collapses, it spreads out the bones in the metatarsal area and starts twisting and pushing them out of alignment. The fallen arch then transfers the pressure over to the 3rd metatarsal bone and the heel creating an unbalanced posture for the foot. This can lead to quick tiredness of the muscles in the lower leg and the thighs.

Eventually the healthy bones and joints will stick out on the side of the foot, also causing the big toe to curve inward. This process causes pain in the joints, toes and metatarsal area. The enlarged joint at the base of the big toe can become inflamed with redness, tenderness, and pain. A small fluid-filled sac called the bursa near to the joint can also become inflamed - this is called bursitis, and can lead to additional swelling, redness, and pain.

If there is no visible sign of a bunion on the patient's feet by touch, but the pressure map shows that the highest pressure area is around the bunion area, that patient has a definite potential to develop a bunion in the future.

Treatment: As the main cause of bunions is a fallen cross arch, the restorative process works in a similar way. The built in modules in the Pedikom restorative orthotics will force the metatarsal bones into forming an arch. As the arch is rebuilt, the bunion will have no more reason to stick out and the pressure around this area will be relieved. The orthotics will try to stop the process of the bunion getting worse, and may even reverse it over time.