Well, they don’t conjure up a mental picture of the height of fashion do they? However even for the fashion conscious bunion sufferer, bunion shoes are a necessity. The chances are that if you have been afflicted with a bunion, the cause is probably the trendy tight shoes which you love.
The key features of bunion shoes are a wide area for your toes and adequate support for the arches of your feet. Any shoe which constricts the feet or has a pointed toe area will only make the problem worse. The material of the uppers should be soft and flexible too. Fabric and worn leather shoes are a good choice, as both materials yield a little and do not put undue pressure on the side of the foot. Generally vinyl shoes aggravate the bunion, as the material retains its shape and does not allow any movement.
Having high supported arches in the shoes helps to keep the feet aligned correctly. Many shoes, especially trainers, have high arch support and if not, it is possible to purchase arches to fit inside your shoes. These are especially important if you also have flat feet.
If you are not keen on changing your lifestyle too much, and still wish to take part in sports, there is an excellent choice of trainers available. Some are manufactured specifically for bunion sufferers, and the internet stores are an excellent way of finding a good selection.
If your feet are wide, you may need to find a specialist shop which caters for wide feet and to have a proper shoe fitting. Your podiatrist will be able to help should you be struggling to find anything suitable.
A pair of crocs is ideal, as these do not put undue pressure on the bunion and leave space for bunion pads to be worn. A pair of flexible old trainers may also be sufficient, and sandals and mules are an excellent choice too.
Choose shoes by how they feel on your feet, not necessarily by the shoe size and measure both of your feet – there is often a slight difference between the sizes of each foot. Make sure you stand up when trying on new shoes, and walk around the shop in them. You may not notice that some are too tight without trying to walk in them.
It is possible to stretch some shoes, and shoe stretchers can be bought from many shoe shops and online stores. There is no guarantee that your shoes will be able to stretch sufficiently in order for them to be suitable for wear with bunion, but if you really find it difficult to part with a particular pair of shoes then it is certainly worth trying.