Foot and ankle problems are fairly common around this time of year, especially bunion pain. This problem is more commonly experienced among women as they prepare themselves for spring and summer shoe fashion trends, so we want to help everyone learn how to care for bunions and how proper shoe selection can help overcome the pain. First, the simple truth is that bunions are not caused by shoes, but tight-fitting and small-spaced footwear can certainly exacerbate the deformity.

Bunions are typically caused by a biomechanical issue that is inherited. Men and women with bunions typically grow a bony bump at the base of the big toe, which leads to a bony protrusion and force the big toe to bend toward the middle of the foot over time. If a bunion develops into a painful ordeal it is recommended to get a professional evaluation from a Los Angeles podiatrist for the best strategies to treat bunion pain.

Proper Shoe Selection

According to a study from the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, 88 percent of women in the United States wear shoes that are too small and more than half of them have bunions. This is no surprise, because bunions are nine times more common in women than men. There have been a number of claims recently that put the blame of bunions on fancy flats and sandals for women this time of year, but this is not entirely true. If you are stumped about the type of shoes to wear to avoid bunion pain and prevent inflammation use these tips to help you find the best shoes:

• Avoid tight-fitting and narrow shoes.
• Sandals or flip flops should have extra padding to help stabilize pressure.
• High heels should have wide toe boxes, no more than 2.5 inches high and worn only for a short time.
• Consider wearing a gel heel cup or custom orthotics to help feet adjust to irregular conditions.

Bunion Surgery

Attempting to relive bunion pain can be a lengthy process that could take more than one method of treatment. If all the strategies that your podiatrist recommends do not show any improvement then it may be time to consider bunion surgery. Every procedure varies depending on the degree of bunion pain experienced by the patient, but we have the experience and knowledge to remove inflamed tissue, straighten the toe joint and realign the remaining bones to their natural angle.

If you are ready for spring and want a second opinion about dealing with bunion pain then schedule a consultation with an experienced podiatrist at Tower Foot and Ankle Surgery in Los Angeles.