What Causes Bunions?
A hallux valgus, more commonly known as a bunion, is a bony lump on the side of your foot. While bunions aren’t life-threatening, they can certainly become an inconvenience, so it doesn’t hurt to find out about bunions causes and understand them better.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the causes of bunion development.
What is a bunion?
More than 30% of adults have a bunion. Bunions are hard lumps that form on the sides of the feet. You can either get a bunion on the side of the big toe or the side of the little toe. A bunion on the side of the little toe is called a bunionette or, sometimes, a ‘tailor’s bunion’.
A bunion is an actual protrusion of bone on the metatarsal joint, but it’s not a growth of new matter, it’s a displacement of the joint which has shifted and rotated out of form.
Bunions can be uncomfortable or even painful, especially if your shoes are tight or don’t fit properly. But the most complained about issue with bunions is the way they look. A bunion will cause the knobbly joint on the side of the foot to look enlarged, pointy, or distended. It’ll also cause the big toe to change angle slightly and point inwards more than straight out. Some people think their feet look abnormal with bunions.
What causes a bunion?
While they’re quite a regular occurrence, bunions are a mystery. They form gradually, and there are no significant symptoms aside from a change in foot shape and the discomfort of an ill-fitting shoe. Bunion causes are a mystery to many too.
No matter the situation, bunions are formed by a foot movement. You roll off your big toe using the metatarsal joint as you walk. This forces the big toe to move towards the second toe and, simultaneously, forces the metatarsal joint in the opposite direction, outwards, shifting its angle and position slightly. Over time the joint shifts more and more out of place. This action is what causes a bunion.
In people that develop bunions, the shape of the foot is more predisposed to the shift in the location of the metatarsal joint. Bunions normally form on the outer side of the joint, but they can also form on top of the joint. The pain from a bunion is caused by the two toe joints moving against each other.
Here’s a list below of all the causes of bunions.
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Genetics
The leading cause of bunions is genetic. You might have noticed that your parents or grandparents have had a bunion, which can make it more likely that you’ll develop them. However, it’s not certain you will; it just means you have inherited a particular foot shape.
If you look at your parents' and grandparents' feet and see that they look the same general shape, you may develop bunions. Genetic problems such as flat feet can make bunions more likely to develop, too.
Having bunions in the older family members isn’t something to worry about. Still, it’s useful to know whether there are because you can keep an eye out for bunions developing on your own feet and take preventative measures early.
Injury
A sprain to the metatarsal joint can hyperextend it and cause a bunion. This is usually what causes a bunion on the top of the foot. This can also cause a bone spur on top of the bunion. A bone spur is a lump that grows on a piece of bone.
Bunions on the top of the foot can be more problematic because they can cause the metatarsal joint to jam when walking, making everyday actions very painful, difficult, and even impossible.
Bad Shoes
When wondering about the cause of a bunion, many people think it’s the result of bad shoes. It's thought that pointed shoes cause bunions, but that isn’t strictly true. Tight shoes can crowd together your toes and point them into the centre of your foot rather than straight. Tight-fitting shoes might feel like they’re pulling your joint in the wrong direction, but they’re not often the cause of a bunion developing.
If your foot isn’t a shape that predisposes you to bunions, tight-fitting or pointed shoes are much less likely to cause a bunion. However, if a bunion developing is already causing your toe joint to move in a certain direction, tight shoes can speed this process up.
Birth Deformities
In the same way that the unique shape of your foot predisposes you to develop a bunion, being born with certain physical deformities can also make them develop. A congenital hallux valgus is a bunion present at birth, although these are quite rare.
Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic arthritis, and osteoarthritis increase the likelihood of bunions.
Gender
Studies have shown that the development of bunions is more likely in women. However, it's possible their development could be encouraged through wearing pointed and high-heeled shoes, which is more prevalent in the female population.
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Can Bunions be prevented?
Finding out what causes a bunion can help you prevent it. Even though they’re not very dangerous, bunions can be difficult to treat and manage. There’s no unintrusive way to fully get rid of a bunion as this requires surgery, so preventing them is the best way forward.
We cover how to prevent bunions in more detail in our blog.
What to Do If You Have a Bunion
Bunions can be mild and painless. You might not even notice one. Or, they can be painful and make walking almost impossible. If you notice a bunion developing, it’s essential to keep an eye on it, and you can take some measures to slow its development down.
Padding around the bunion can make it feel more comfortable when wearing shoes and walking. Consider using foam plasters or cutting a piece of chiropody felt to give your foot more room round the bunion and absorb the impact of the shoe.
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