Bunions are painful and often need intervention and surgery. They are a swelling that occurs on the soft tissue and a bone enlargement that takes place over the inside of the ball of the big toe. There isn’t anything that athletes do that causes bunions; they are caused by genetics, age, wearing high heel shoes regularly, and by biomechanical factors.
Symptoms will include pain around the ball of the big toe and problems with wearing certain types of shoes. Some athletes will see the 1st metatarsal moving outwards. Answers for athletes include cutting a hole for the bunion in a piece of padding, seeing a sports injury specialist or podiatrist to have an orthotic device made, or separating the big toe and the one next to it with a bunion split.
Athletes can consult with a podiatrist who can make orthotic devices or refer you for an operation on the bunions.
