What is bunion is something that many people do not think of very often, but those that have them can think of nothing else. But what most people think of as a simple bump around the toe area is actually something that is much more severe. A bunion is a bony growth that’s located around the joint at the base of your big toe, and it is something that can cause you extreme pain and problems. But what you will also find is that those with bunions have an issue with their toe being angled towards the other toes rather than straight ahead as it should be.
This condition is called hallux valgus, and is most commonly found in women rather than men. And the theory and studies behind what is bunion and why do women have it more has come up with the answer being their footwear. As you know many women wear those high healed shoes that leave very little room for their toes. But did you know that the word bunion comes from the Latin word bunion which when translated means turnip? Here are some other important facts about bunions.
Bunion Facts
• Many bunions have been found to be inherited
• While women are 10 times more likely to get bunions, women that wear high heels get bunions the most
• Those that wear narrow or pointed shoes get bunions more than others
• Those that have the condition known as flatfeet have a tendency to develop bunions
But the question behind what is bunions is still why. Research has shown that the reason all of those people mentioned above get bunions more than others is because the situations they are in tend to make the big toe get pointed towards the little one. In fact, 90% of people seen at the doctors for bunions are those that normally wear tight fitting shoes like high heals. The reason for this is that type of shoe has a sloping part for your foot and a very narrow area for your toes. And it is the slope that puts pressure on the toes causing the larger one to bend towards the others in the tight fitting front. However, there are factors that make the risks and severity of the bunion worse than others.
Factors for Bunions with Tight Fitting Shoes
• The length of time you wear the offending shoes
• Your skeletal maturity
• Other individual factors
And although such factors may seem simple to you they can all very easily cause your toes to fit to the new forced form. And considering the following facts you can surmise for yourself just how many people have bunions in the world.
Bunion Facts
• The average shoe size that women in America wear will most often be 2 ½ times too small for her
• When looking at statistics for countries where people most often go bear foot the number of people who have bunions is only 3% of the population.
• 33% of those people who live in western countries will develop bunions
So if you fall into any one of these categories or of those above that, then here are some things you can do.
1. Grab a hold of all your dress shoes
2. Put those shoes on the floor and stand beside them
3. Compare your foot to the shoes you dragged out
Chances are you will find that your dress shoes are smaller than your feet. And if this is the case then you have the answer to not only what is bunion but also what has caused yours to come about. And if you do have a bunion then you will notice that your feet and toes have been changed because the tendons in your feet have been pulling your toe in a position that is not natural. But because this has happened over a long period of time it will not be very easy to treat.