Experts estimate that up to 25% of people have bunions. Experts agree that it is a common foot ailment, but experts don't agree on what causes them. They agree on one thing, though; find out what that is and other things you can do to treat or prevent bunions below.
What are bunions?
Bunions or hallux valgus - to the experts - are protrusions or lumps on the side of the foot where the big toe bone joint is. Here are a few images of what they might look like, from mild to severe.
In most cases, bunions are mild, and many people don't even realise they have them. However, that is a cause for concern because it might not be a problem in your 30s but could progress, and then in your 50s, you are in trouble. So it pays to know what they are and to take action if you think you have them.
What causes a bunion?
Causation is the fun bit because everyone disagrees, but they agree on one thing, as we said above. Experts disagree that shoes are a cause of bunions, to the point that at recognised foot and ankle health conferences, one doctor will present something totally contradicting to another doctor. It is kind of laughable at times. It makes you doubt who the expert is. One side argues it is genetic and that you can't avoid it; it's hereditary. The other side argues that it is caused by poorly fitting footwear and lifestyle - unless you are born with deformities. However, they ALL agree that poorly fitting shoes don't help, accelerating the deformation and potential for pain and mobility issues.
So at least they can all agree on one thing. If you wear shoes that crush your toes and force your feet into a shape they were not designed for; you will have problems now and in the future.
How can you prevent bunions?
Preventing bunions or the acceleration of bunions is pretty straightforward. The first thing to do is be aware that you have bunions, but even if you don't, footwear that doesn't fit will cause issues later in life. Secondly, wear shoes that fit your feet and have stretchable/flexible uppers to accommodate your bunion protrusion. Most shoes on the market are narrow in design, especially in the toe box area. They also tend to have stiff upper materials, which will aggravate your lumps/bunions.
How can Fyous custom-fit help?
Fit is where Fyous comes in. Shoes currently on the market are mass-manufactured to a generic size, meaning they are designed not to fit you. I don't exaggerate here. Fit models - a person whose job is to try on shoes - are used to check if a shoe fits well, but they are one person with a foot shape that the brand determined to be a good average size 8 or 6 male or female. Therefore, your shoe was designed to fit them, and not you.
At Fyous, we make shoes at competitive prices that fit you perfectly. They are made for you and only you. We do this using scanning technology provided by our software and Apples iPhone hardware, and our Polymorphic moulding technology. Don't worry if you don't have an iPhone. We have partners all around the country that can come and scan your feet, or you can even go to your local podiatrist or foot health clinic to get your feet scanned.