Flat Feet and Bunions – What’s The Link

You see that round blob at the corner of your thumb on your foot? Yes, that is a bunion! It looks like a lump on the side, but a bunion is a boney protrusion on the feet due to numerous factors. In this blog, we have discussed the top 9 for bunions and whether they are related to flat feet in any way.

What Is A Bunion?
The bump you can see on the side of your big toe is a bunion. It is hard to miss since this boney structure is quite prominent in the otherwise straight line of the foot.

The bunion bump is a deformity that occurs when the first metatarsal starts shifting towards the opposite foot and the big toe bone inwards towards the second toe; the resultant angle produces the bump.

Once your foot starts bunion formation, bursae – small fluid-filled pads around your big toe joint undergo inflammation. This results in swelling, along with redness and pain.

The bump is not painful in certain cases. However, as time passes, bunions will crowd the toes causing pain and possibly permanent deformity.

Flat Feet and Bunions – The Relationship

Bunions and other deformities are more likely to occur if you have flat feet due to the current issues that pronation can cause in the foot’s structure. Proper alignment of the toes when walking can prevent a bunion from getting bigger.

Reasons Why Bunions Grow

1. Genes
Your DNA makeup plays a huge role in this. If either of your parents or even both have bunions, you are most likely to have them on your feet.

They are more common among women than men. They are a result of rheumatoid arthritis, muscle-tone disorders like Down syndrome, or neuromuscular issues.

2. Flat Feet
The shape of your feet matters a lot. If you have a flat foot, then you are at higher risk for bunions.

3. Ill-fitted or too-tight shoes
Never go for a shoe that pinches your toes or puts pressure on it. Wearing shoes smaller than your size could make you prone to bunions. The best shoes for bunions are those which do not put unwarranted pressure on them.

4. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or polio other than flat feet make you increasingly susceptible to bunions. Any inflammatory disease or an issue that causes inflammation can lead to bunions.

5. Weak Foot Muscles
Frequent foot exercises to make your muscle strength will minimize the risk of getting bunions.

6. Loose Joints plus Tendons
Loose tendons or joints give more room for movement than a typical foot. This causes the feet to fan out more while walking like ones with flat feet increasing bunions risk.

6. Standing Long hours
Standing and movement for long hours contribute to bunion formation. Your feet are not given the rest they need, and in turn, the toes start taking that angled position.

7. Pregnancy
Hormonal changes while you are pregnant make the joints loose and cause flat feet phenomenon and, ultimately, bunions. Weight gain, along with extra pressure on feet, makes women most vulnerable to this issue.

8. Pointy Toe Shoes
High heels and pointy-toe shoes cram up the space of toes that, result in angular change causing bumps beside the big toe.

Final Words

Multiple treatment options are available, but the choice largely depends on the root cause. If flat feet are causing bunions, then wearing specialized shoes to provide support can help a great deal. In case of rheumatoid arthritis, get in touch with the rheumatologist at Breton Ridge St, STE H, Houston, from Rheumatology Care of North Houston.