Bunions affect one in three New Zealanders. According to doctors and most podiatrists, the only way to correct a bunion is surgery.
Here's proof that there's another way. Meet Heather, whose bunions we corrected conservatively at our Tauranga clinic, without her having to resort to surgery.
A bunion is a deviation of the big toe towards the middle of the foot. Without treatment, a bony growth may develop, causing a bump or enlargement on the side and over the top of the big toe.
Because there's a misalignment within the joint, bunions are usually (but not always) painful, and they generally result in osteoarthritis in the big toe joint. They're commonly irritated by footwear, and many people feel embarrassed by how their feet look.
Bunions are generally caused by the way someone walks and stands. At Corrective Foot Solutions, we always address the underlying cause first. Our treatment approach can correct the bunion and stop it from coming back.
Many people think surgery is the only option for bunions. However, Foot Mobilisation Therapy (FMT) is extremely successful in most cases.
With FMT, we gently guide the joints back into the correct position and then strengthen the muscles around the joint to reinforce the new position. As a result, the body naturally straightens the bunion, with help from the hands-on therapy you receive in the clinic.
We recommend treating bunions as early as possible, even if they don't hurt yet. Studies tell us that our bodies only feel pain in the later stages of a condition. So by the time you're feeling pain, significant damage has already occurred.
The sooner treatment starts, the sooner the underlying cause can be addressed.
Heather came to Corrective Foot Solutions with advanced-stage, painful bunions. She was determined to address the underlying cause and avoid expensive surgery.
We referred her for a weight-bearing x-ray of both feet. As you can see below, her big toes were significantly misaligned at 34.72 and 20.39 degrees. We classify anything over 30 degrees as an advanced-stage bunion. A normal alignment is between 12 and 15 degrees.
Heather then completed a short three-month course of treatment, which involved joint mobilisation and manipulation along with exercises. Afterwards we took another x-ray to remeasure the changes.
You can clearly see a fantastic change of 14 and 7 degrees, and Heather has no pain. She's not far from the normal 12 to 15 degrees, and with minimal ongoing treatment we would expect her toes to straighten completely.
Well done Heather! No expensive surgery and no more pain.
If you have a bunion and want to avoid surgery, we'd love to help. Call our Tauranga clinic today on 07 925 0269 or book an appointment online. We're at 1260a Cameron Road, Gate Pa.
"I only wish I had found you sooner!"
Finally, a Podiatry solution to fix your aching body. FMT is a extremly effective alternative to expensive surgery and orthotics. You can also wear the shoes you want!
At Corrective Foot Solutions in Tauranga, we believe that quality of life is important – and that means the ability to walk and run comfortably and freely. Our foot specialists use advanced hands-on assessment techniques that treat the underlying cause of your foot problems, and provide measurable and objective feedback on your progress. We love seeing you get back on your feet – whether it’s walking that extra kilometre, keeping up with the kids, running or just being able to wear the shoes you love.
Click here for directions to our podiatrist.