Studies show that over 60 million people in the U.S. have or have had bunions. And because many women wear high heels, they are more likely to develop bunions than men. Because this condition has become so widespread, today, Dr. Timothy Barry of Family Foot & Ankle Care of Jasper in Dubois County shares his 6 top tips for preventing bunions. 

While some bunions show no symptoms, many become swollen, painful, and red. In some cases, the pain makes it challenging to put on footwear or even walk. 

The best way to treat bunions is to stop them from forming in the first place.

Following are our top 6 tips to help you achieve that. Many of these tips are related to your shoes

1. Wear the correct shoes. The best thing you can do to avoid bunions is to wear proper footwear. When shopping, the best shoes will have a wide toe box, good arch support, heels that are lower than 1”- 2” and are a bit loose on your foot. 

2. Shop for shoes later in the day. Interestingly, nighttime is the best time to shop for shoes. Because your feet usually swell during the day, they are at their largest later in the day. If you shop for shoes earlier in the day, they may feel tight when evening rolls around. 

3. You shouldn’t have to break shoes in. When shopping for shoes, before purchase, walk around in the shoes for a bit. If the shoes fit, your toes should not be touching the front of the shoe, and you should be able to wiggle toes around comfortably.

4. Remain at a healthy weight. Each time you take a step, your body weight puts pressure on your feet. When someone is overweight, their big toe joint and foot are under more pressure than they should be. And the more pressure on the toe joint, the higher the chance of it developing a bunion.

5. Care for your feet. When your feet are aching and tired, soak them in warm water with Epsom salt. Apply moisturizing lotion so they won’t dry out, and massage them frequently. 

6. Wear inserts or custom orthotics to make sure your foot has proper support. If your foot isn’t aligned correctly or you have flat feet, you should wear orthotics in your shoes to ensure that your foot is properly aligned and supported. 

If you have a bunion or are concerned that you may be developing a bunion, please contact the office of Dr. Timothy Barry of Family Foot & Ankle Care of Jasper in Dubois County at (812) 481-7200 immediately to schedule a consultation.