Bunions are an enlargement of the great toe or hallux joint on the feet which is frequently associated with a deviation in the position of the big toe. Bunions are very common. The bunion may or may not be painful and it hardly ever looks good and in most cases poses a difficulty for the fitting of footwear. They do have a tendency to be genetic and could be a result of using shoes that are too restricted. They are more prevalent in females and this might be due to the choice of shoes. They might be painful within the joint due to arthritis like symptoms and they also is often painful due to pressure from the shoe on the bunion.
Can exercises help bunions? They may be capable of, however they are not likely to really make the bony enlargement disappear but they may help improve the angle of the big toe or hallux somewhat. The best way to make the lump go away is with surgery. No level of exercising is will make that go away. The amount of pressure producing the bunion and resulting in the big toe to deviate way is greater than what any exercise is going to change. However, in spite of this, the exercises that you often see suggested are still probably worth carrying out since they can help keep the joint mobile and flexible which is a positive thing. That improvement in the range of motion of the joint can go a long way to reducing pain that frequently develops inside the joint. The type of bunion exercises which can be most useful are those which stretch and move the joints through its full range of motion in all directions. Often exercises that can strengthen the arch muscles of the foot may also be helpful. Even if surgery is used, the exercises both before and after the surgery will assist with the treatment.