• Wear comfortable shoes
Most bunions occur in women who wear shoes that are either too narrow or too small for their feet. Inappropriate shoes crowd your toes and increase the pressure around your toe area. Always avoid forcing your feet into tight shoes that do not fit properly. If you are buying a shoe, get fitted by the salesperson. The most appropriate time to fit the shoe is in the later part of the day when the feet are at their largest due to swelling. Therefore, women are advised to change to shoes that have better arch support and adapt to the shape of your feet.
• Avoid high heels
In most cases, women are pressured to wear high heels because of fashion trends or the nature of their jobs. Wearing heels is not a problem. However, heels that are more than two inches high can increase your chances of getting bunions. The height causes the body to tilt forward thus increasing the pressure between the toes and the feet. Additionally, most high heels are too narrow for most toes. Women should avoid shoes with high heels, and if they have to wear them, they should do so in moderation.
• Walk around the house in bare feet
According to health experts, spending more time barefoot is better than restricting your feet to sandals or shoes. When you are walking barefoot, you are widening your feet and strengthening all your toes. The big toes also get a chance to work hard thus causing the toe muscles to get stronger. Relaxed ligaments reduce the risk of bunions.
• Maintain a healthy weight
Generally, women who are overweight or obese have higher chances of suffering from foot problems such as bunions. This Is because the huge amount of weight increases the pressure on their feet and their toes. Overweight women are therefore advised to do their feet a favor and lose the extra pounds. They can do this by reducing the consumption of calories or engaging in cardiovascular activities.
• Consider physical therapy
A physical therapist can ensure that you do not develop this foot condition by engaging you in stretches and strengthening exercises specifically for your toes and feet. They also offer treatment in case you have swollen joints. Taping your toes with medical grade tape ensures relieves the symptoms by supporting the joints and the toe muscles.
Always remember that prevention is the best cure. If you have spotted some signs of trouble, you need to take the above precautions before it is too late.
