MD Podiatrist Discusses Causes of Bunions

A bunion is a bony bump that sticks out from the side of your foot at the base of the big toe. The word bunion comes from the Greek word for turnip – perhaps because a bunion can look swollen and reddish. “The common wisdom is that women get bunions because they spend too much time in narrow-toed high heels,” says Dan Michaels, DPM, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon.

“Tight shoes can certainly be a contributing factor,” he says, “but bunions can be caused by anything that puts extra pressure on your big toe joint, such as the way you walk, standing for a long time, and even some health conditions.” Heredity or previous foot injuries also can be a factor, Dr. Michaels says.