Signs You Might Need To Get Gel Bunion Pads

Bunions. You might have heard of them from your ailing ancestors when you were younger. Unfortunately, you might start to feel the symptoms of budding bunions on your own feet. If that’s why you’re reading this, you’ve come to the right place. 

Bunions are protrusions on the base of your big toe. It feels exactly like what it looks like—painful and uncomfortable. There are remedies people swear by. Gel bunion pads, for instance, are a familiar product people with bunions might want to try. 

What Causes Bunions

There are two areas where bunions grow: the base of the big toe and the side of the smallest toe. They are all the same, no matter where they are located. Bunions are extreme examples of toe misalignment. The joints on the base of the toes protrude or form a hump because of the crooked position of the big toe. 

Can anyone develop bunions? No. But according to research, genetics play a significant role in forming them. The structure of your toes and feet is inherited from your parents. Some people have feet with toes that naturally lean inwards, and as they age, they become more prone to developing this foot condition.

Gender and societal norms can also be a factor in bunion formation. Researchers found out that females are more likely to develop this foot condition than men. Their theory is that wearing high heels plays a significant role in these situations. Heels create balance issues for the wearer. Because you tend to stand with your heels elevated from the rest of the foot, the balls of your feet have to work overtime to keep you from falling—this means added pressure on the balls of the feet just to stay grounded. For extra support, you’d have to force your toes together. 

Wearing tight shoes can also cause bunions. If you’re likely to develop bunions due to genetics, check the design of the shoes you purchase. Forgo narrower or pointed-toe shoes, which confine your toes and squish them together while keeping the base or balls of the feet wide. The disproportion will induce stress on your whole feet. If you find that the shoes you’re wearing are uncomfortable, stop wearing them early on. 

Another critical reason why bunions form is old age. Arthritis, for one, causes the joints to swell, and if you already have misaligned toes on your feet, the condition will probably worsen the pain. These injuries that come with age are sometimes inevitable, but it doesn’t mean you have to suffer through them quietly.

Instant Remedy: Gel Bunion Pads

Sufferers of this foot injury, used to enduring the pain on their big and tiny toes, saw a ray of light with gel bunion protectors. Typically, people with bunions have soreness, a burning sensation, numbness, and swelling in the affected area. It is also extremely uncomfortable and painful to wear shoes. The friction caused by the bunion constantly rubbing with the shoe material can worsen the symptoms too. 

Gel bunion cushions protect the affected joint from the friction inside a shoe. It’s not a wonder cure, however. People have to wear shoes that have a little leeway for the bunion hump. Very tight shoes will make the bunion pad useless. No matter how it protects the bunion, friction will still have its way if the shoes are too restricting. 

Toe misalignment is another problem bunion pads address. The protrusion of the joint on the base of the big or small toe causes the toe to be pushed with the other digits. By realigning it to the natural position, bunions can be reduced in size, and hopefully, over time, the foot can return to its original state. 

Takeaway

In summary, bunion pads are not the end all be all for the injury, but they do alleviate the pain and improve one’s quality of life. As much as people want to cure bunions with a miracle remedy, nothing will happen if you don’t make certain changes to your lifestyle—pay close attention to your daily activities and the type of shoes you wear; let your feet breathe regularly for a chance to get rid of your bunions.

Finding the best gel bunion pads for your needs is also vital to ease your aches. Not every pad is made the same. Some may be harder than what is comfortable for you, and others may be the opposite. Spend some time researching all about them before buying a pair. 

Bunion gel cushions can come in different forms too. There are gel pads in sock form that make it easier to wear shoes. There are also sleeves to not only protect the bunion from friction but also help balance the whole foot. The classic gel pad/toe separator is also a bestseller for people who simply want to alleviate their pain and nothing more. You should get whatever design suits you and your lifestyle. Thanks to gel bunion pads, living with bunions doesn’t have to be as painful.