As experience shows, for many people, bunions are not only a medical issue, but also a cosmetic one. Bunions can be very painful and thus make walking difficult, but they also cause problems with finding suitable footwear. They are more common in women, while men rarely experience them. In most cases, they have a genetic background and are not necessarily the result of lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, wearing high-heeled shoes has little or no influence on their development.
A bunion is also known as hallux valgus. It is a serious dysfunction that primarily involves the lateral deviation of the big toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint toward the other toes, combined with a varus alignment of the first metatarsal bone. This makes the condition complex. Additionally, bunions are characterized by a rotational shift of this bone, which prevents the foot from functioning in its natural, anatomical position.
The image on the left shows a foot without a bunion, while the right side shows a foot with a bunion, as explained below:
- HVA (Hallux Valgus Angle) – the angle of deviation of the big toe.
- IMA (Intermetatarsal Angle) – the angle between the first and second metatarsal bones.
