Do you have a bunion? Do you even know what a bunion is? Though a huge number of women actually have feet problems like bunions, many people don’t even know what this common foot deformity is or what it looks like. Before you can decide if you need treatment for bunions, you need to know what they are, what causes them, and how they can be corrected.
Bad Foot Health Decisions
Around one-quarter to one-third of all American adults have bunions — and they’re mostly women. Because of the shoes they wear, women are 10 times more likely than men to develop bunions. In fact, you may have bunions right now and not even know it. That’s because many people don’t even know what they are.
If you wear high heels, you’ve already increased your chances of needing to get treatment for bunions. How do you know if you have them? Take a look at your bare foot. Place your foot flat on the ground, making full contact from heel to toe. Now, look at the inside of your foot up by the big toe. From the toe all the way down to the heel, your foot should make a relatively straight line. If the bone at the base of your big toe looks lumpy or appears to be jutting out, it’s because you have a bunion. These are often caused by wearing improper footwear, but they can be caused by other leg and foot problems.
Approximately 85 percent of all people have legs that are a different length. In some people, this can create an uneven gait that will eventually result in a bunion on the foot of the longer leg. However, the more common reason to need treatment for bunions is footwear. A study from the American Foot and Ankle Society showed that 88 percent of women actually wear shoes that are too small. Of that 88 percent, 55 percent had bunions. High heels also cause bunions, because the way you step in high heels puts more pressure on the toes and the front of the feet. In women who regularly wear high heels this can create painful and unattractive bunions.
Getting Treatment for Bunions
Each one of your feet has 26 bones. That means that one-quarter of all the bones you have in your body are actually in your feet. And you’re pretty rough on your feet on a daily basis. The average adult takes between 4,000 to 6,000 steps every single day. By the time they get to age 50, most Americans have traveled 75,000 miles. Maybe that’s why about 19 percent of the U.S. population has, on average, 1.4 foot problems every single year. Around 75 percent of all Americans will experience foot problems and issues with foot health at least once in their lifetime.
Getting treatment for bunions is possible, and it’s advisable. Many fear foot pain and the recovery time after bunion surgery, but actually it is possible to have painless bunion surgery. You’ll be back on your feet shortly after receiving treatment for bunions, pun intended. There are also non-surgical options for those seeking treatment for bunions. Ask about all your options, and correct this problem to enjoy better foot health. Like all issues with the body, letting foot problems go untreated will only lead to bigger problems in the future.
