Ask the Doctor
What are bunions?
A bunion is an enlarged, inflamed first toe joint with or without deviation of the great toe. Bunions are caused by inherited structural imbalance and aggravated by shoes, stretch hose, injuries, arthritis, and activities without proper foot support. Foot imbalance causes collapsing arches when standing and as the arch drops the muscles to the big toe pull the toe out of alignment. Professionally fitted arch supports align the unbalanced foot, prevent it from spreading out, and take pressure off the bunion joint.