MD Podiatrist Discusses Bunions

Bunions have sent many people, primarily women, to the podiatrist’s office, as Dan Michaels, DPM, can attest. The good news is that, according to Dr. Michaels, with early intervention it is possible to avoid bunions. 
 
There are a lot of misconceptions about bunions and what causes them, with many people citing genetics, or even high heels as the inciting factor. However, it’s a little more complicated than that. “The bottom line is you get a bunion because of your biomechanics,” says Dr. Michaels. When the foot’s arch drops, or pronates, this causes the muscles on the bottom and side of the foot to stretch. Pronation increases pressure on the foot’s inner area. Bunions occur when the muscles on the top of the foot try to compensate for this, pulling back, but causing bone to jut out.