Bunionette and Bunion Prevention
Just because your mom or grandma has a bunion, it doesn’t mean you’ll get one too. Preventing bunions is totally possible. And amazingly, it's not all that hard!
It’s true there's one inherited trait that can predispose you to getting a bunion: overpronation. Overpronating means your foot rolls inward while walking. The unequally distributed weight puts a huge amount of pressure on the big toe joint. It doesn’t guarantee a bunion, but it definitely doesn’t help (especially if no proactive measures are taken).
The shoes you wear matter much more in whether you’ll get a bunion or not. It’s a clue to why women develop bunions so much more frequently. Dr. Hartley Miltchin has this to say on the topic: "We're meant to walk on bare feet so that our body weight is distributed equally between the ball and the heel of the foot. When we wear heels, 90 percent of the weight is on the big toe joint."
90% of our weight. Forced onto the big toe joint.
Either overpronating or high heels can lead to a bunion over time. But put together? That’s almost a sure bunion.
It goes like this: high heels (and ill fitting shoes or workboots) put a giant amount pressure on the big toe joint. As a result, the joint becomes inflamed. Simultaneously, the tip of the big toe starts moving towards the other toes and can even overlap them. In the end, a pseudo “sixth toe” made of bone and inflamed tissues develops around the big toe joint. That newly formed “sixth toe” is the bunion — bringing pain, anxiety, and disability.
What's a Bunionette?
A bunionette — or Tailor's Bunion — is just like a big toe bunion, but develops on your little toe instead. Tailors used to get this condition because they sat cross-legged with the outside of their foot pressed into the ground.
Bunionettes, too, are linked to ill-fitting shoes, especially ones that are too narrow. Feet expand towards the end of the day as they get more fatigued. This causes the metatarsal joint on the fifth toe to increasingly press against the inside of the shoe. When exposed to too much pressure, feet try to create protection in the form of calluses, corns, bursa, etc. This protective build-up most often comes with inflammation and pain.
The inherited trait that increases the chances of bunionettes is underpronation (tendency to put pressure on the outside edge of the foot while walking). Both bunionettes and bunions come from the same thing: squeezed and constricted toes as a result of too much pressure.
What's Best for Our Feet?
An older study by Dr. Shulman, a podiatrist, looked at barefoot groups in rural parts of India and China. Those studied either wore sandals with no arch support or went barefoot. For the most part, they worked and played with nothing on their feet most of their lives. Dr. Shulman’s results were surprising: many of those surveyed, who had never worn Western-style shoes, had very few foot problems. And their ranges of foot motion were remarkable.
Health professionals point to the Shulman study as evidence that barefoot is best. We believe this is true, too.
Integrated Foot Health
Foot and toe problems can’t be looked at in isolation. It’s not possible for a foot to be healthy AND have a bunion at the same time. Only by taking an integrated, overall view does preventing bunions and bunionettes become clear.
Bunions get the “spotlight”. But, hammer toes, claw toes, Plantar Fasciitis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, and flat feet are every bit as debilitating and painful. Mobility and independence are keys to your happiness. Keeping your feet healthy is essential.
Bunion & Bunionette Prevention = YogaToes®
YogaToes® fit between, below, and above the toes — gently guiding and massaging them. Our design simultaneously stretches the toes apart AND away from the balls of your feet. This is like walking barefoot. Nothing could be more important for feet. One thing people quickly realize, both young and old, is that YogaToes® make feet feel incredible. After just a few minutes!
The therapeutic effect of YogaToes® has been noted by both everyday people and medical researchers. Recently, YogaToes® were used in a neurological study by a Henry Ford Hospital doctor. Those studied had foot dystonia (painful muscle contractions). The results? 85% of participants found great benefit from wearing YogaToes® over a period of three months.
There are hundreds of reviews by people who love YogaToes®. Surgeries avoided. Injuries undone. Bunions undone. Foot pain reduced dramatically. It’s the bare truth!
Are YogaToes® for me? Of course they are. Until we can all live in a barefoot environment (again), YogaToes® will be a great choice. YogaToes® come with a 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee. The best part? Bunion prevention is included with each and every pair.