Blog
Bunions
Written by: James Gill BOst GOsC 6039. Registered Osteopath, Founder & Clinic Director
Medically Reviewed: Soula Henderson, BAFHP 18020807 HCPC CH037187, Registered Podiatrist & Foot Health Specialist
What are Bunions?
A bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus) can be described as a bump that forms on the side of the base of your big toe. This bump occurs due to changes in the orientation of the bones at the front part of your foot. This causes the big toe to be pulled toward the second toe, causing the joint at the base of the big toe to stick out and therefore producing the standard bunion bump. Bunions are a progressive issue beginning with the leaning of the toe and with time the angle of the bones can get increasingly prominent.
Because the foot is the foundation of your kinetic chain, a bunion often impacts how your ankles, knees, and hips move. Our integrated approach ensures that while our Podiatrists manage the foot, our Osteopaths and Chiropractors correct the postural compensations that often lead to secondary back or hip issues. Due to the bump rubbing on shoes it can become irritated and the skin over the bump can be red and tender to the touch. Bunions are the most common problem that affects the front part of the foot in adults. They are more common in women than men and are more likely to occur as you get older. There is also an occurrence where this can happen on the joint of the little toe – this is called a bunionette.
Clinic Note: Bunions are a progressive structural change, not just a cosmetic bump. At Bodytonic Clinic, our Osteopaths, Podiatrists, Physiotherapists, and Chiropractors collaborate to address the mechanical “why” behind your foot pain. We accept all major private health insurance including AXA, Aviva, BUPA, and Vitality.
What are the symptoms of Bunions?
Apart from the obvious bump on the outside of the base of your big toe, other symptoms can occur. However they usually appear at the later stages of bunion development and some people never experience them, These include:
- Swelling, redness or soreness around the large toe joint especially when loading through the joint such as walking
- Burning sensation (often indicating nerve entrapment or secondary “Morton’s Neuroma” symptoms).
- Ongoing fluctuating pain
- Calluses or corns to develop between the first and second toes from rubbing against each other
- Reduced movement in your big toe (Hallux Limitus)
- Possible numbness
Over time, if the bunion gets bigger then you may find it harder to walk and your balance may be affected which can increase the likelihood of falls. Finding comfortable shoes can also be challenging.
Possible complications of bunions can include:
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the cushioning sac near the big toe joint.
- Metatarsalgia: Swelling and pain in the ball of the foot caused by altered weight distribution.
- Hammertoe: Often occurs in the 2nd toe – an abnormal bend in the middle joint.
Bunions The Ultimate Guide Infographic
What are the common causes of Bunions?
The exact cause of bunions is unknown but it can be likely to include:
- Consistent foot stress: From narrow or high-heeled shoes.
- Inherited foot type: Such as being flat-footed (over-pronation). Our Chiropractors and Osteopaths often identify that poor foot mechanics are linked to pelvic imbalances or restricted ankle mobility.
- Gait abnormalities: Anything that affects how you walk. Our Physiotherapists specialise in gait analysis to identify muscle weaknesses in the hips that cause the foot to collapse inward.
- Arthritis: Particularly inflammatory types like rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
- Occupational Load: Spending long periods of time standing on hard surfaces.
How are Bunions diagnosed?
Bunions are normally diagnosed by visual inspection. During your consultation at our Stratford or Canada Water clinics, your practitioner will perform a comprehensive biomechanical assessment. We examine your gait to see how the bunion is affecting your overall movement and joint health.
To evaluate the condition fully, x-rays may be taken to assess the degree of deformity. Blood tests can rule out gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
“A bunion is rarely just a foot problem; it is a mechanical failure of the foot’s arch. By the time a patient sees a bump, their walking pattern has usually already shifted to compensate for the pain, which can lead to knee or hip strain. We don’t just look at the toe; we look at how the whole body moves.” James Gill, Registered Osteopath & Clinic Director
What are the treatment options for Bunions?
Conservative Treatment (Non-Surgical)
Non-surgical treatments help relieve the symptoms and stop progression. Our clinic offers a multi-disciplinary conservative pathway:
- Custom Orthotics: Prescription-grade padded inserts to distribute pressure evenly and correct the mechanical “roll” (over-pronation).
- Manual Therapy: Our Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Podiatrists and Physiotherapists provide hands-on care to restore mobility to the mid-foot and ankle joints.
“Custom orthotics are the primary defense against bunion progression. By controlling ‘over-pronation’-the inward rolling of the foot-we take the mechanical pressure off the big toe joint, allowing the surrounding soft tissues to settle and preventing the deformity from worsening.” Soula Henderson, Registered Podiatrist
- Shockwave Therapy: We utilise the versatility of Radial Shockwave (ESWT) to reduce bursitis and forefoot muscle pain, and the precision of Focused Shockwave (FSWT) to target deep chronic joint inflammation, allowing for superior pain management.
“Patients often feel stuck between simple padding and invasive surgery. Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSWT) fills that gap by targeting deep-seated inflammation in the bunion joint that manual therapy alone can’t reach. It’s a game-changer for managing chronic bunion flare-ups.” Bodytonic Clinical Team
- Medications: NSAIDs like ibuprofen can help control pain. Always check with your NHS GP first.
- Padding & Footwear: Switching to a wider toe box and avoiding heels over 4cm.
- Ice: 10-minute applications to relieve soreness and swelling.
Non-surgical treatments that can help relieve the symptoms of a bunion include some of the following options. It is important to note that these methods can help with the symptoms of a bunion but cannot reverse the deformity of the bunion:
Surgical Option
If conservative treatment has not been successful, a bunionectomy may be considered. Post-surgical rehabilitation is vital to ensure the joint does not stiffen. Our Physiotherapy and Osteopathy teams provide tailored post-op recovery plans to ensure your foot regains full mechanical function.
How long do Bunions last?
Bunions cannot be reversed without surgery and even then, this isn’t a guarantee. The best way to deal with bunions is to identify them early and take precautions in order to stop them progressing.
Can Bunions be prevented?
Bunions can be limited from getting worse by wearing footwear that is more suitable for bunion sufferers. This can induced shoes that are wide enough so that you can wiggle your toes comfortably and there isn’t any pressure on the joints at the side of your feet, have a heel lower than 4cm so that the feet aren’t pushed forwards causing excess pressure on the balls of the feet and adjustable fastenings such as straps and laces to hold your foot in the shoe.
If you have any questions about the sort of shoe that is best suited for you it is recommended you speak to a licensed podiatrist. They can also suggest and supply you with orthotics and shoe inserts.
What are the best exercises for Bunions?*
Big toe abduction
- Sitting on the edge of the chair with feet on the ground and legs relaxed, using your hand (or an object such as a ruler if you can’t reach) move your big toe away from your other toes, keeping your muscles relaxed until in this position. Don’t worry if you can’t move this far, it may only be a few millimeters.
- Keep the toe in this position by tensing the muscles around your toe and pushing your inside and outside edge of the toe and/or foot into the floor.
- Repeat this exercise 10 times.
Bunion stretch
- Sit with one ankle crossed over the other knee so that you can reach your foot easily
- Using your hand, grab the base of your big toe with one hand and then using your other hand grab the upper actual toe with your knuckles facing the centre of the foot.
- Push down with the hand holding the base of the big toe whilst simultaneously pulling the big toe away from your foot (distraction) and up towards you (plantar flexing).
- Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
*It is always recommended to get the go ahead from your GP before carrying out any of these exercises.
Do I need to go to the GP or visit my local hospital?
Clinical Resources & External Support
As part of our commitment to clinical excellence and patient safety, we recommend the following professional resources for further reading on hallux valgus and foot health:
- NHS Guide to Bunions: The official UK health service overview of bunion symptoms, causes, and surgery criteria.
- The Royal College of Podiatry: Professional advice from the UK’s leading authority on foot health and podiatric medicine.
- General Chiropractic Council (GCC): The statutory body that regulates all chiropractors in the UK to ensure the safety and quality of chiropractic care.
- General Osteopathic Council (GOsC): Information on the standards of practice you should expect from our registered Osteopaths.
- Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC): The UK regulator for Physiotherapists and Podiatrists, ensuring clinical safety and professional standards.
- Diabetes UK – Foot Care Guide: Crucial safety information for diabetic patients regarding the management of foot deformities and injury prevention.
Healix Insurance Accepted (Pay & Reclaim)*
