Hallux valgus is called in Latin “hallux valgus”. It is a condition that most often affects women, but of course it can also occur in men. It is a degenerative disease that develops over time and is caused by the selection of inappropriate footwear that deforms the foot.
Causes of the disease:
- Flat feet can contribute to the condition
- Wearing high-heeled shoes for a long time
- Overweight or obese
- Standing lifestyle
Symptoms
The basic symptom, visible at first glance, is the deformation of the big toes towards the foot and the rest of the toes. The symptoms felt are primarily:
- Severe foot and toe pain
- Trouble moving and walking without pain
Why high heels?
Most often, shoes of this type have a different ending on the toe side. There is a kind of constriction there, which “pushes” the larger fingers into the smaller ones. Wearing such footwear often aggravates the defect and causes that the foot no longer deforms to its normal appearance. In addition, wearing high-heeled shoes overloads the front part of the foot, and thus causes any subsequent degeneration. The longer a woman moves in such shoes, the more the entire movement system is distorted, and thus the foot no longer works as before, and the point of support always changes during movement. In addition, the distribution of body weight changes, which must now be supported by the forefoot and toes. In the case of overweight or obesity, this problem multiplies even more.
Bunions are not only a cosmetic problem
Unfortunately, in this disease, the joints are also attacked, degeneration of the joints occurs and the strength of the foot muscles decreases. The joint on the inside of the foot is often inflamed, leading to pain and swelling when moving. Unfortunately, some women may be more predisposed to developing the condition than others due to the genetic background of the disease.
Hallux treatment
Treatment may consist in reducing the symptoms of the disease or in preventive treatment. In extreme situations, it is possible to perform a special operation that will help restore the appearance of a “normal” foot before the disease.
- Consult an orthopedic surgeon
- Purchase special orthopedic insoles
- Start corrective gymnastics
- Don’t wear high-heeled shoes
- Use special gels and patches for bunions and use separators
- Use special corrective devices that can also be worn at night