I hear all the time my clients saying that their bunions are hereditary. They heard that also from their orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist. They were also told that having an operation is the only solution. I would like to put that myth to rest.
When babies are born, their feet are widest at the ends of the toes. They are not born with bunions. Up to a year of age, shoes that are available for children respect the width of the foot and keep the widest part of the shoe at the toes. The shoes look like like a natural baby's foot. Not long after that, if you look at shoes for 2 year olds and up, the widest part of the shoe is the ball rather than the ends of toes.
From then on, all the shoes are widest at the ball of the foot. Take a look at the shoes you have at home, or look at the shoe display at a shoe store to confirm that.
The way feet are measured at shoe stores is based on a metal device that you probably have seen. It is called the Brannock device, and it measures the foot's width at the ball of foot rather than the end of the toes. I will add more about the device in another blog. In the United States of America, almost 100 % of people are fitted into shoes that don't allow the ends of toes to be the widest.
And that is the birth of bunions.
Almost all of my private clients are able to get rid of their bunions and avoid the bunionectomy (surgical procedure that moves the big toe back in its position)
It is not a fun surgery and the recovery takes a long time.
Even with the surgery, your bunion can come back and usually it does. Why? You are back on those shoes and you have not addressed the musculature of the foot to make the big toe do what is supposed to do.
I almost always recommend to my clients the use of Correct Toes to put their toes and metatarsals back in place. It works like magic!
I teach them exercises that are specific for them and they take about 5 minutes daily.
The results are visible pretty much right away.
The 'Healthy Feet" course is packed with information, actionable and effective exercises and lots of easy tips to bring your feet to health. Some of the main issues addressed are:
Plantar Fasciitis
Bunions
Neuromas
Hammertoes
Balance
Ankle instability
Fall prevention
Taylor's Bunion (Bunionette)
I designed the Healthy Feet course after the Posture and Strength one. Even though that course addresses gait and how we land the feet on the ground, I realized I needed to go in depth with the most common issues affecting the feet, otherwise, the way we stand and walk cannot be one hundred percent effective and beneficial.
Here are some exercises I have been sharing in the social media world for you to learn more:
Enjoy the exploration!
Please know that if I am sharing a product with you, it is because I love it and use it myself. I might get a small commission on some of the purchases you make through the external links.