Bunion pain can halt a tennis match before it has a chance to begin. The sharp pain can make it difficult to walk in, or even put on, the form-fitting shoes required for the agile side-to-side motions of tennis. You can stop bunions before they form, or treat existing ones, to ensure you always hit the court for a match.
What are Bunions?
Bunions are abnormal bumps that force your big toes inward, deforming the natural contour of your feet. Symptoms of bunions include a lump on the outer area of your big toe, swelling or redness around the big toe joint, restricted big toe movement and persistent or intermittent pain, according to MayoClinic.com. Bunions can become large enough to make finding tennis shoes that fit over your foot difficult.
Prevention
Bunions are typically caused by wearing narrow shoes that force your big toe inward, against the natural movement of the joint. Over time, a bony material forms and keeps your big toe in this position. The easiest method of preventing bunions is to wear wide-toe shoes that do not restrict your big toes. When you are selecting tennis shoes, look for a fit that allows you to extend your toes back and forth slightly. You should not purchase a size that is too big, however, as this can allow your foot to slide forward during tennis and damage your toenails. If you cannot find properly sized shoes with wiggle room for your toes, have your shoes specially made to prevent bunions from forming.
Treatment
Once you notice the formation of a bunion, you can often stop it from progressing by switching to wide-toed shoes immediately. In addition, you can wear a foam bunion pad during tennis practice and matches to protect that area of your foot. Wearing toe spacers that separate your first two toes during the night can also aid in bunion treatment. Both bunion pads and toe spacers are available at most drugstores.
If the bunions become severe enough to cause constant pain when playing tennis, you can have them surgically removed. A health care professional can inspect or X-ray your foot to assess your bunions and advise you about how to proceed with treatment.
Pain Alleviation
You can alleviate bunion pain with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and painkillers. This should be enough to control minor bunion pain. If they do not alleviate the pain, consult your physician for treatment or prescription pain medication. Always follow the dosage instructions for the pain medication. For temporary pain relief and swelling reduction, try applying ice to the area for 10 to 15 minutes and elevating your foot.
