Top Bunion Products To Help Avoid Surgery

A bunion (also known as hallux valgus) is a deformity of the big toe and the big toe joint that can be quite painful and affect mostly women. There are several causes to bunions and these causes include poor foot mechanics, improperly fitted footwear and regular use of high heeled shoes. However, the only way to actually remove one is through bunion surgery.

Avoid Bunion Surgery

If you’ve developed a painful bunion, it’s important to know what your options are. There are many non-invasive treatment options for painful bunions and these options should be explored before resorting to bunion surgery.

Here is a list of non-invasive treatments and products that the certified Pedorthists at Kintec recommend:

1. Custom Orthotics

Improper foot mechanics can be a contributor to bunion formation and bunion pain.

For example, if your foot overpronates when you walk, there will be increased pressure on the instep of your foot. This causes your big toe to deviate towards your other toes.

Custom orthotics are designed to realign the foot and reduce that pressure. This will slow the progression of a bunion and ease pressure off of the painful joint.

2. Proper Footwear

Tight-fitting footwear is a huge cause of bunions and will make existing bunions feel even more painful.

Shoes with a wide, round toe box will allow your forefoot and toes to spread naturally and not be squeezed by the sides of the shoe. If you have a wider foot, look for footwear brands that offer shoes in multiple widths.

Find shoe features that will properly accommodate your foot. Heavy stitching and multi-layered shoe upper designs will not easily stretch around your foot. Natural leather shoes and/or synthetic shoes with minimal stitching will feel more comfortable and accommodative.

WATCH: Top Products to Help Avoid Bunion Surgery (2:30)

3. Footwear Modifications

Balloon patches and custom rocker soles are two footwear modifications that can alleviate pressure on a painful bunion. To create a balloon patch, we cut out the material over the bunion. Then, we replace it with leather, which has more stretch. This, of course, is best on a leather shoe.

A rocker sole will allow for a natural roll off through the toe without straining a painful joint. As well, there are certain shoes that have a natural rocker built into their design, such as the Bondi by Hoka One One, without having to modify the shoe.

4. Bunion splints

Also called Hallux valgus splints, you can wear these at night to assist with realigning the big toe.

There are a few styles available, such as the Bauerfeind Valguloc. Some splints have a joint hinge that can allow the wearer to use it around the house as well.

While night splints will not permanently realign the toe joint, they can slow the progression of the bunion as well as help the toe maintain a better position during the day.

5. Toe spacers

You can wear toe spacers as long as your shoes have enough room to accommodate them. Remember, the tighter the shoe, the more pressure on the bunion.

Toe spacers are typically made of a silicone gel or soft material that compresses slightly for comfort. They can be worn during the day between your big toe and second toe and can be worn inside shoes.

Both off-the-shelf and custom toe spacer options are available. Custom toe spacers allow a better fit and an extension to the smaller toes. This is ideal if you need to consider other conditions, such as hammertoes.

Speak to a Specialist

Learn more about what your options are before resorting to bunion surgery. If you’d like some expert advice, a Canadian-certified pedorthist or Fitting Expert can help. Visit a Kintec location near you or talk to a Fitting Expert online now via Live Chat.