If you currently experience bunion pain or discomfort and have looked into bunion treatment methods you may have been told that surgery is the only option available.
In reality, bunion surgery should be the absolute last resort. Recent research has shown that surgical outcomes can be poor, with over 30% of bunion surgeries considered unsuccessful by the patients. That’s because most surgical interventions don’t address the reasons the bunion is occurring in the first place.
In addition, when bunion surgery is performed on an adolescent whose yet to reach skeletal maturity, there is a strong chance the bunion will return.
Alternative Foot Solutions provide a non-surgical treatment option for people with bunions in Sydney’s Northern Beaches – Manly Vale, Balgowlah, Fairlight, Queenscliff, Brookvale, North Manly, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Allambie Heights, North Balgowlah, Manly and surrounding suburbs.
A bunion forms primarily because of a misalignment in your feet that affects the way that you walk and move. Yes, bunions can be hereditary in many cases; however, this doesn’t change the fact that the misalignment is the character trait that is passed down, which turn causes the bunion.
Most people think that bunion surgery is the only treatment when it comes to bunions; however, foot mobilisation is extremely successful in most cases. Foot mobilisation helps to address the underlying cause, correcting the way that someone stands and walks as well as straightening the big toe. Conservative management, such as foot mobilisation, is recommended as early as possible, even if the sufferer feels no pain. Studies tell us that our bodies only feel pain during the last seven to ten per cent of the progression of any condition. As a result, by the time a bunion starts hurting, significant irreversible damage has occurred. The sooner bunion treatment is started, the sooner the underlying cause can be addressed.
Foot mobilisation is a hands-on approach that is all about straightening the big toe through gentle and steady realignment therapy, which helps strengthen the big toe, the joint, and the muscles in and around that area of the foot.
In our many years of experience treating feet, foot mobilisation has shown to be the most effective way to treat a bunion while also fixing the underlying issues that are causing it.
The therapy involves gently and painlessly taking the joints of the feet through their full range of motion, which helps to gradually correct their positioning. Foot mobilisation strengthens the entire foot, and in most cases, completely resolves any misalignment issues that can lead to bunions forming.
The future prevention of bunions is another key advantage of foot mobilisation therapies. Once the misalignment within the foot is addressed and the foot is strengthened, the biomechanics of your foot is changed long term and as a result you are far less prone to getting another bunion or further progression of an existing bunion. Your core walking and running patterns change as your foot strengthens which has a positive effect long term.
Once a foot mobilisation exercise routine is established, we teach you some additional podiatry exercises you can do at home.
The exercises target some of the larger muscles of the foot which, when strengthened, help to support the affected toe and surrounding tissues. This allows the area to heal and realign naturally, with long term results.
In both foot mobilisation therapy and home treatment plans, exercises might include:
Home exercises are conveniently designed so that they can be completed in five minutes, and often while doing other activities (like showering, sitting, or watching TV). However, exercises aren’t the only way we educate and empower our patients to reverse the effects toe joint misalignment. In addition to the home exercises, there are also a number of ways to ensure that the condition doesn’t worsen after the official treatment concludes, or return years later.
Orthotics are another option often prescribed for the treatment of bunions, however these also have a number of limitations. Orthotics hold the foot in place which means realignment occurs only while wearing them. Without strengthening the feet themselves as foot mobilisation does the alignment issues are not resolved long term.
Foot Mobilisation has several benefits over orthotics as a treatment for bunions
In some very advanced cases (particularly in you have a large bony lump), bunion surgery needs to be considered as a bunion treatment option. However, we generally find that bunion surgery is avoidable and we won’t recommend a surgical approach until we are 100% sure that the issue cannot be resolved with foot mobilisation and physical therapy.
Non-surgical bunion treatment consists of a gentle hands on approach to address the underlying cause of your bunion by strengthening the muscles in your foot. It very effective in improving the alignment of bunions and provides long term results. During treatment you can maintain your normal activity and there is no restriction on footwear.
Foot mobilisation is a hands-on approach that is all about straightening the big toe through gentle and steady realignment therapy, which helps strengthen the big toe, the joint, and the muscles in and around that area of the foot.
At home exercises target some of the larger muscles of the foot which, when strengthened, help to support the affected toe and surrounding tissues. This allows the area to heal and realign naturally. And so the foot realigns long term.
Surgery should be the absolute last resort. Recent research has shown that surgical outcomes can be poor, with over 30 % of bunion surgeries considered unsuccessful by the patients. That’s because most surgical interventions don’t address some of the reasons why the bunion is occurring in the first place. When bunion surgery is performed on an adolescent whose yet to reach skeletal maturity, there is a strong chance the bunion will return.
Normally valued at a total of $100 but for a limited time only $35 dollars. (65% off!)
Contact us to book an appointment or call our Manly Vale clinic on (02) 8966 9300!
