A bunion, also called a hallux valgus or hallux abducto valgus, is a progressive disorder that occurs when the bones around the joint at the base of your big toe lean into your second toe, throwing the other bones out of alignment and forming a bump that gradually grows larger. One of the most common methods of treatment is surgery, but you can use nonsurgical methods, such as yoga, to help slow down or stop the progression of bunions.
How Bunions Occur
Bunions are genetic. They are caused by a certain foot type that makes a person more prone to developing a bunion. Symptoms are aggravated by shoes that crowd the toes, which is why bunions are more common in women, but even just standing on your feet too long can worsen the symptoms. Symptoms include pain or soreness in the affected area, inflammation and redness, burning sensation and possible numbness. Many people who have bunions, or are prone to bunions, never know because their symptoms do not become severe enough to notice.
Nonsurgical Options
If your bunions are not too far developed, nonsurgical solutions can provide relief and slow down or stop the progression. Options include changing the shoes you wear to shoes that do not crowd your toes, adding padding in your shoes to create a barrier between the bump and the inside of the shoe and using an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or orthotic devices in your shoe.
Yoga
Since bunions occur because of the bones within the foot, there are no quick fixes that yoga can offer. Using yoga as a supplemental treatment for bunions will prove useful after a period of years. And while yoga may slow down or stop the progress of your bunion, it won't cure the condition.
Poses
Poses that will eventually provide some help for your bunions are primarily done standing. Most standing poses in yoga require your foot to be flat on the ground, with the toes spread and somewhat gripping. Because the bone alteration caused by bunions usually results in the bone turning inward, standing yoga poses will position your foot in direct opposition to the bunion and slow down its progress. Standing poses in yoga include warrior, tadasana, vrkasana and utkatasana.
