Reston/Herndon - (703) 437-6333
Manassas/Gainesville - (703) 368-7166

Those High Heels Could Lead To Bunions

BunionsA common foot problem that the doctors at the Reston, Manassas and Leesburg Foot and Ankle Centers treat is bunions. Many of the patients who come in with this problem are women and that’s because of the shoes they choose to wear. Even though they are very attractive on the feet and some women find them more comfortable than flats, high heels often lead to pain from bunions. If you love heels and wear them often, learn how bunions develop and how you can prevent or slow them down from forming on your feet.
 
Painful Bunions
A bunion is an inherited deformity of the foot that happens when the bone begins to protrude. Over time a large bump appears on the inside of the foot and the great toe begins to move outward. As this condition progresses, it becomes painful to walk, stand and wear normal shoes. Bunions cause the entire foot to become ill-shaped, making it difficult to find a pair of shoes that fit comfortably.
 
Risk of High Heels
Female patients of the Reston Foot and Ankle Center are often at risk of painful bunions when (not because) they choose to wear high heeled shoes. Painful bunions usually develop from wearing poorly designed shoes—the taller the heel and the smaller the “toe box” the more likely there will be a problem over time as the bunion gets progressively larger. Women who wear these types of high heels on a regular basis, to work or while dancing for hours, are most at risk.
 
Preventing Bunions
The best way to prevent painful bunions is to take a break from high heels and wear more “sensible” shoes. But if you love your heels, there are a few things that you can do to prevent or slow down the development of bunions. First, reevaluate your shoe choices—it is worthwhile to invest in a very good pair of heels that are no more than 1-2 inches high, and provide you with sufficient support, width and cushioning on all sides. Next, consider custom orthotics, to help address the flatfoot that is often related to and the cause of the bunion, and help reduce pressure to the bunion  bump and prevent it from getting worse. (eliminate other sentence that was here) 
 
A Preventative Podiatrist Appointment
If you think you have the beginnings of what appear (not appeared) to be bunions and wear high heels, it is important that you see your local Reston podiatrist and foot surgeon as soon as possible. Bunions can often be successfully treated with custom orthotics and in more serious cases, corrective surgery. Call the office at 703-437-6333 to schedule an appointment or consult today.

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Locations

Reston Foot and Ankle Center
1760 Reston Pkwy, Suite 310
Reston, VA 20190
Phone (703) 437-6333
Fax: (703) 437-7837

Manassas Foot and Ankle Center
8577A Sudley Rd.
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone (703) 368-7166
Fax: (703) 368-5103

Office Hours

Reston Foot and Ankle Center
Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 3:00pm

Manassas Foot and Ankle Center
Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 3:00pm