Do Bunion Correctors Work? Podiatrists Give Us the Truth—And Best Options
There are many causes of foot pain, but having a bunion may be one of the most agonizing (it is for me, at least). Oftentimes, bunions form as a result of genetics, or over time if your feet are constantly squeezed into a narrow space (or both). This ultimately causes the big toe to slant toward the second toe, resulting in a protruding bone, or knot at the front of your foot. “bunions are a progressive condition in which there is a bony prominence that protrudes near the big toe joint,” Adam Kaplan, DPM, podiatrist and CEO of Arcus Orthotics, previously told Well+Good.
Bunions can lead to a lot of discomfort, pain and even prevent you from wearing your favorite shoes. I was recently reminded of this fact when I wore a pair of sneakers that were way too narrow and kept rubbing against the side of my foot. Needless to say, that put a lot of pressure on my bunion and caused me to steer clear of heels for the next few days. At the same time, I wondered if there was an easy way to prevent the pain without getting surgery.
The answer is yes: Bunion correctors exist for the sole purpose of helping support the bone and relieve pressure and pain. But do they really work? And should you wear one? We chatted with a podiatrist to get answers.
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What are bunion correctors?
Bunion correctors are commonly-used devices that people wear on their feet to keep their big toe in proper alignment. Although these can’t cure your bunion, they can be useful in providing temporary relief for joints and reducing pressure. However, whether a bunion will be effective or not all really depends on the gravity of your bunion and what type of pain you’re experiencing. (Yes, there are levels to this.)
“There are two types of bunion pain. One is joint pain and the other is bump pain,” says Dr. Patrick McEneaney, DPM, podiatrist and CEO of Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists. “So bump pain is typically when you get rubbing against the side of your toe from a shoe. If you have pain that starts inside the joint, typically that’s a sign that there’s cartilage damage starting and that’s when I worry more.” At this point, it may be a good idea to have a chat with your podiatrist about whether or not surgery is the best option for you.
Do bunion correctors work?
Yes and no. For bump pain, McEneaney says that a bunion corrector, like this $22 best-seller from Amazon, can help offer some relief. Again, it won’t be able to fix your bunion, but it may be effective in reducing some of the redness and inflammation causing pain on the surface of the bump. Additionally, something like a bunion shield ($12) also comes in handy if you want to help decrease bump pain. These are soft silicone gel coverings that you put over your big toe that keep the protruding bone from brushing up against your shoe.
“Those aren’t correctors, but those are more bunion shields or bunion splints,” Dr. McEneaney says. “Those can be real helpful to people because if you have a shoe where you’re getting some friction, they can act as an interface to prevent that friction.”
Who should wear a bunion corrector and when should you wear one?
There aren’t necessarily any hard or fast rules when it comes to wearing a bunion corrector or a splint (the other symptom-treating option). But depending on the state of your bunion, you may or may not be better off wearing one.
“Anyone with a good range of motion and without a very stiff joint usually find bunion straps and correctors comfortable,” says Dr. Jackie Sutera, DPM and podiatrist partnered with shoe company . “People with severe, stiff or arthritic joints don’t have the flexibility and usually have discomfort from trying to push the joint out of its current position.”
At the same time, it’s important to remember that bunion correctors have limitations, and are, at best, a temporary fix for discomfort and painful symptoms. Also, everyone’s experience is different. Therefore, it’s best to manage your expectations when it comes to getting relief using these type of products.
“Think of eyeglasses which help you to see when you wear them but don’t correct or cure poor vision,” Dr. Sutera says. “[Bunion correctors] are devices that when you wear them, can reduce some strain. They do not train, fix, or reverse conditions like bunions, but often times they can offer relief, while wearing them and help you to reduce some pain.”
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