“A bunion deformity is a prominence on the inner side of the foot that is created by an angular deformity between the first and the second metatarsals. So the first metatarsal drifts towards the inner side of the foot, where the great toe, which we call the hallux, drifts towards the lesser toes. This is what creates the bony prominence or eminence on the medial side of the foot. One of the ways to prevent it is to create an arch support. Orthotics can be very handy to maintain the longitudinal arch, which keeps the bunion or the metatarsal in a more favorable alignment. However, sometimes you can’t prevent a bunion because bunions are also genetic. When you have the genetics that predispose you to having an increase in the space between the first and second metatarsals, then often bunions would need to go on to surgery. However, there are things you can also do to stop a bunion from getting worse, and that’s not wearing shoes that are narrow. If you wear shoes that are narrow and high-heeled shoes, it pitches the foot forward, which also causes the toes to be squeezed. That increases the angle of the great toe being pushed over towards the lesser toes, and that’s what helps to precipitate a bunion.”
Make an appointment with Thomas Goldman, DPM
Thomas Goldman, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Monday-Friday Trained in New York, he is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. He was awarded his medical degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency in Podiatry at Coney Island Hospital. He has a particular interest in podiatric minimally invasive foot surgery and sports medicine.