Skip to content 
Running With Bunions (Causes, Treatment & Prevention Tips)
Are you suffering from bunions and still love to participate in sports? Well, as a passionate runner, you undoubtedly enjoy running with bunion pain. Physical activities are great for your health and give you many advantages. But, if you continue running to keep yourself healthy, it can worsen your bunions.
Running with a big toe joint is a wrong decision. It can cause foot and ankle pain and affect running. A bunion is a common foot condition with large protuberance in old women. You can prevent it by identifying and treating it early.
This blog covers all the information regarding running with bunions, its causes, treatment, and prevention tips. It also includes recommendations about lifestyle adjustments, prevention measures, and individualized podiatry care according to affected foot conditions. So, stay calm and dive into the guide for running with a bunion!
Related Article: “Running With Morton’s Neuroma (Treatment & Prevention)”
What Is A Bunion?
A bunion is a bumpy foot deformation, forming a jelly-like bursa sac over the first metatarsophalangeal joint due to a hallux valgus deformity. It causes discomfort and causes toes or toenails to rub against the shoes’ interior.
Bunions are more common in women than men and children. The toe turns inwards over time and it can develop on one or both feet.
It is also common in runners due to repeated stress on the toe boxes. These conditions can affect performance and cause developing bunions.
Major Symptoms of Bunions
Let’s take a view of the symptoms if you are running with a bunion!
- Pain, swelling, and inability to move or bend the big toe.
- Ongoing or intermittent pain.
- Difficulty wearing specific shoes.
- Development of corns.
- Hammertoes, numbness.
- Bulging bump on the outside of the big toe base.
- Soreness around the big toe joint.
Related Article: “Can You Run With A Broken Toe? (Research And Evidence-Based)”
- Movement of the affected toe for long periods.
Bunion Causes Overview
There are many causes of bunions, including:
- It occurs due to heavy stress on the metatarsophalangeal joint.
- Causes the big toe to turn inward.
- It is more common at the base of the big toe.
- Common causes include wearing narrow or pointed shoes, walking habits, health conditions causing inflammation, and prolonged standing or footwork.
- Pain along the bottom of the feet, especially flat feet, is worse during shoe wear and walking.
- Can cause performance issues.
- Repeated toe overlap can lead to bunions, corns, or hammertoes.
- Bunions develop due to family history, abnormal bone structure, increased motion, and shoe choice.
Diagnosis of Bunion and Tests
Bunions are diagnosed through a physical exam by a healthcare provider, who may also consult a podiatrist. After consultation, follow the recommendations for your running shoes and avoid high heels.
The podiatrist uses foot bones and MTP joint X-rays to determine alignment and assess the condition when necessary.
Treatments and Management for Bunion
It can be treated through various methods, including footwear changes, bunion pads and taping, orthotics, pain relievers like NSAIDs, icing, corticosteroids, physical therapy, and beunion surgery.
Shoes with wide-toe boxes like Orthofeet Orthopedic Knit Kita Hands-Free Sneakers can alleviate pressure, while OTC pads and medical tape cushion the area.
Orthotics can support joints at the base; people can use them with spacers between their big toes.
Pain relievers like NSAIDs can reduce swelling; while icing and corticosteroids can reduce inflammation. If other treatments fail, experts recommend physical therapy to strengthen the foot.
Future Prevention Tips For Running With Bunions
Preventing bunions includes wearing shoes that ease the base of big toes, especially for those with low arches, flat feet, loose joints, or arthritis.
- Avoid high heels and shoes when walking unbalanced, as they can cause unnatural forms and weaken the Achilles tendon.
- Choose shoes with a wider toe box and a flatter plane for a more natural foot landing. Look for shoes with “zero drop” or “low drop,” the height difference between heel and toes.
Related Article: ”9 Best Running Shoes For Bunions (Runners Weigh-In)”
How To Slow Bunions Down?
A podiatrist or foot specialist can design an aggressive bunion management plan that includes orthotics, toe taping, custom pads, a bunion splint, and maintaining good posture.
Strengthening foot muscles and ligaments through exercises like toe extensions and toe adductors can also help manage bunion pain.
These techniques can help slow down the pressure on the toes and improve overall health. Explore the methods below to relieve this long-term disease.
- Use kinesiology tape.
- Use a toe separator like ZenToes Gel Separators for good toe positioning.
- Wear custom pads.
- Use a splint to reduce pressure on the toes.
- Adjust your posture regularly.
Related Article: “Can Running Increase Height? (7 Useful Ways To Achieve It!)”
- Strengthen foot muscles and ligaments for pain relief.
How To Manage Bunion Pain?
Bunions can impact gait and form and lead to painful foot pain. Managing bunion pain involves professional foot massages, cold compresses, anti-inflammatory medications, regular foot care sessions, and NSAIDs.
After a heavy workout or long run, you must put cold impress on your foot. To avoid corn, attend important foot care sessions. If pain persists or intensifies, consult a podiatrist for more invasive options.
Related Article: “Long Distance Running Vs Sprinting (7 In-Depth Comparisons)”
Can Runner Bunion Surgery Help?
Bunion surgery relieves you from foot pain. However, foot specialists often delay it due to the time required of the feet and the possibility of complications.
It may take months to return to previous activity levels. The exact “race ready” time depends on the body’s ability to heal from the specific surgery. Take it easy after surgery to avoid any future complications.
Conclusion
This blog covers all the information about running with bunions, their causes, treatments, and preventions.
Experts do not recommend to run with bunions. It can lead to a chronic disease and will take a long period to recover. Bunionettes are easy to recover if you take action quickly. Our piece of writing helps you to prevent it.
If you feel bunion pain while running, buy the medicated gear to slow down your bunions, Ortho+rest Women Orthopedic Dress Shoes Bunions Loafers Slip On Orthotic Shoes!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fast running can cause toe joint pain and inflammation. So, suitable footwear like Brooks Men’s Ghost 15 Neutral Running Shoes is essential for protection. Wear comfortable kicks to avoid extra pressure on your feet.
Wearing custom orthotics can significantly reduce moderate bunion pain in runners by preventing pronation, improving foot mechanics, reducing pressure on bunions, and slowing progression.
Bunions can indirectly cause knee pain due to changes in gait and weight distribution, potentially impacting the entire lower half of the body and the knees.
Avoid narrow, pointed shoes, and try on multiple pairs to prevent bunions. Do practice sitting, standing, and walking in new shoes before purchasing.
