09/10/2014    

PODIATRISTS AND FOOTWEAR

Wrong Size Shoes Can Exacerbate Bunions: MA Podiatrist

 

Bunions can be made worse by the wrong shoe, or by carrying extra weight, or prolonged periods of standing or walking. Dr. James P. Ioli, chief of podiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said wearing the correct shoe size is a good first step in preventing bunions. It’s important to make sure that your toes have enough room. Don’t wear shoes that jam the toes together. High heels are also particularly bad because they move the body’s weight forward and change the mechanics of the foot.

 

Dr. James Ioli

 

 

Even if you think you know your shoe size, Dr. Ioli said, the size of your foot can change over time. In women who have given birth, the foot ligaments often relax, causing the foot to get longer and wider. Unfortunately, there are not really any effective non-surgical options to reduce the size or reverse the development of a bunion, said Dr. Ioli. But non-surgical treatments can reduce the pain or discomfort from a bunion and keep it from worsening.

 

Source: thetimes-tribune.com [9/9/14]