Can Podiatrists Help with Bunions?
Can Podiatrists Help with Bunions?
By: Mark A. Wolstenholme
Podiatrist, Clinical Touch Podiatry
MRCPod, HCPC Registered
BSc (Hons) Podiatry
November 2025
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Understanding and Treating Bunions
Understanding and Treating Bunions
Bunions—which doctors or podiatrists may refer to as Hallux Abductor Valgus (HAV) — are a common foot problem we see, affecting a large portion of the adult population, particularly women (Mortka & Lisiński, 2015; Nix et al., 2010). A bunion is more than just a visible bump; it’s a progressive problem where the structure of your foot begins to shift out of alignment.
As podiatrists, our goal is to help you manage the pain, stiffness, and walking difficulties caused by bunions using the most effective, evidence-based methods available.
What Exactly Is a Bunion?
What Exactly Is a Bunion?
A bunion is a gradual change in the position of your big toe joint. Instead of pointing straight ahead, the long bone in your foot (the metatarsal) starts to drift inward, and your big toe starts leaning toward your smaller toes (Mortka & Lisiński, 2015).
This shifting creates the visible "bunion bump" on the side of your foot. Over time, this misalignment can cause inflammation, stiffness, and chronic pain, making everyday activities uncomfortable.
Why Do Bunions Develop?
Why Do Bunions Develop?
Bunions are often caused by a combination of genetics and everyday stresses on the foot:
Gender: Bunions are much more common in women than in men (Nix et al., 2010).
Footwear: Wearing shoes that are too tight, pointed, or high-heeled can force the big toe into an unnatural position, speeding up the deformity (DiGiovanni et al., 2016).
Foot Mechanics: Underlying issues with your foot structure, such as tight tendons or muscle imbalances, change how your foot bears weight, placing excess strain on the big toe joint (DiGiovanni et al., 2016; Hurn et al., 2022).
How Bunions Affect Your Life
The problems caused by a bunion usually relate to pain and mobility:
Pain and Swelling: You feel pain and swelling at the big toe joint, especially when you move the toe or put weight on it (Hurn et al., 2022).
Stiffness: The big toe joint can become stiff, limiting your ability to push off the ground when walking (DiGiovanni et al., 2016).
Walking Difficulties: Changes in your foot mechanics can alter your normal walking pattern, potentially making you walk slower or feel less stable (Hurn et al., 2022).
The Power of Conservative Care and Hands-On Therapy
At Clinical Touch Podiatry, we believe in conservative (non-surgical) treatments, which are highly effective for managing symptoms (Hurn et al., 2022). Our goal is to relieve your pain and improve your function before ever considering surgery.
Our approach often includes:
Shoe Changes: Guidance on finding wider, deeper shoes that don’t squeeze the toes or put pressure on the bunion bump (DiGiovanni et al., 2016).
Manual Manipulation (Massage): For relaxing and lengthening tight muscles and to improve movement and reduce pain, research strongly supports using hands-on therapies, like massage or joint manipulation (Mortka & Lisiński, 2015). Systematic reviews of medical studies consistently show that treatments involving manual therapy lead to significant reductions in pain and improvements in foot function (Mortka & Lisiński, 2015; Hurn et al., 2022).
Custom Insoles (Orthotics): Prescribing specialized devices that fit inside your shoes to stabilize your foot, correct underlying imbalances, and reduce strain on the joint (Hurn et al., 2022).
Targeted Exercises: Recommending specific exercises to strengthen the muscles in your feet and legs that help support your foot posture.
The Benefits of Manual Manipulation
Your podiatrist or therapist may use hands-on techniques to:
Relieve Stiffness: Gentle joint manipulation techniques are used to reduce tightness and increase the mobility of the big toe joint, helping to ease stiffness and pain (DiGiovanni et al., 2016).
Address Tight Muscles: Specialized soft tissue massage or deep muscle release is applied to tight muscles, especially in the calf and arch of the foot, to restore proper movement and take pressure off the forefoot (DiGiovanni et al., 2016).
When Is Surgery Necessary?
Surgery is generally considered only when a patient has persistent, severe pain and functional limitations that cannot be relieved by comprehensive conservative care (NHS, 2023; DiGiovanni et al., 2016). Podiatric surgery works to properly align the bones, remove the bony enlargement, and relieve the chronic pressure.
While non-surgical treatments are excellent for pain management, they do not correct the underlying bone deformity (Mortka & Lisiński, 2015; Hurn et al., 2022). Non-surgical, conservative treatments have more success in early stages of HAV.
If your bunion is causing significant daily discomfort, let's explore how a combination of custom insoles and hands-on therapy can help you get back on your feet comfortably.
References
References
DiGiovanni, C. W., Greisberg, J., & Lemos, M. (Eds.). (2016). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Hurn, S. E., Matthews, B. G., Munteanu, S. E., & Menz, H. B. (2022). Effectiveness of nonsurgical interventions for hallux valgus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arthritis Care & Research, 74(10), 1676–1688.
Mortka, K., & Lisiński, P. (2015). Hallux valgus—a case for a physiotherapist or only for a surgeon? Literature review. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(10), 3303–3307.
NHS. (2023). Bunions. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bunions/
Nix, S., Smith, M., & Vicenzino, B. (2010). Prevalence of hallux valgus in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 3, 21.
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