Bunions are more common than you may think. According to the American Foot and Ankle Society, one-third of American women suffer from this uncomfortable and unattractive foot deformity. At Lake Ridge Podiatry in Woodbridge, VA, Dr. Ranieri helps many people walk without pain, and he stops the progression of bunions. Here are the details.

How do bunions form?

A bunion, a bony bump at the bottom of the big toe, forms due to mechanical pressure and friction on the metatarsophalangeal joint. Contributing factors are:

• Age (middle years and up)
• Gender (being a woman)
• Tight, narrow-toed toes with high heels
• Improper gait (putting pressure on the side of the foot)
• Obesity
• Injury to the foot
• Fallen, or flat, arches

As a bunion develops and worsens, it turns the big toe toward the second toe and may even cross it. Pain, a lop-sided gait, and limited mobility result.

Diagnose and treatment at Lake Ridge Podiatry

Don't wait for a bunion to impact your life. Come to our Woodbridge, VA, office for a gait assessment and exam by Dr. Ranieri. He may take X-rays as well.

Thankfully, most bunions respond well to simple and consistent interventions you can easily maintain. They include:

• Switching to more conservative footwear (lower heels and spacious toe boxes)
• Keeping a healthy body weight
• Rest and ice as needed
• Taping or strapping on the affected joint
• Shoe padding
• Orthotics, or inserts, custom-made to your foot shape and gait

Stretching exercises maintain range of motion and mobility, and over the counter ibuprofen to relieve the inflammation and pain of any arthritis which may develop. If you have corns and calluses due to friction, your podiatrist will remove than safely and comfortably in the office.

Regarding surgery (bunionectomy), you may be a candidate if simple treatments are ineffective or if your gait and the flexibility of your big toe are severely compromised.

Contact Lake Ridge Podiatry

Your foot and ankle health is our only business. We take bunions seriously. Dr. Ranieri can stop this deformity and help you stay mobile and free of pain. Call our Woodbridge, VA, office for more information.

We are open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Call us at (703) 491-2603 today.