By Kristen Butorovich

Today, many people are suffering from a common foot deformity called bunions. A bunion is a bump inside the toe joint. If you are living in warmer areas, and tend to wear open shoes throughout the year you are more prone to have bunions.

When you wear a closed shoe, there is pressure on the bunion and you will feel sharp and acute pain.

It is a common perception that bunion means growth of bone on one side of the foot, but this is incorrect in most cases. The main cause of a bunion formation is the first metatarsal bone, which is made by mechanical force.

As the bone shifts over, it makes the "big" toe move towards and over the second toe. If the condition worsens, the "big" tow might push up the second digit to form a hammertoe.

If your bunion is painful and in bad condition, it will require Foot surgery Houston . In the surgical process, the doctor will reposition and repair the surgically fractured bone with the help of a tiny screw. It will take time for the patient to recover.

It is true that bunions don't form overnight and if you see a bump on your foot, better take prevention action and stop is from further developing. Ill fitting or tight shoes can contribute to the formation of bunions but these are not the entire reasons.

Bunion development is a hereditary process. If your parent or grandparent had this problem, there is a greater risk of your being prone to it as you will inherit the mechanics that form bunions. Therefore, the moment you see a bump on the foot, a big callus or your "big" toe drifting towards the second toe, consult a podiatrist immediately.

Orthotics is amongst some of the most popular treatments for bunions. It is a customised insole or shoe that will correct the mechanics causing the bunion. The Orthotic addresses all the forces that are the reason for deformity, neutralise them efficiently and then stops the progression of the bunion.

It is necessary that an orthotic should be made properly or else it will not help you in recovering. Ask your podiatrist to perform a biomechanical examination to know all the forces that are coming to the foot from the ankle, hips, knees and lower back. Then, a mould of foot will be taken with fiberglass or plaster while holding the foot in a neutral position. Orthotics will be implanted or fabricated in this mould.

Apart from preventing the further progress of bunions, an orthotic will also make your foot support base more stable and take off the pressure from the knees, hips and back. People who frequently suffer from back pain and knee pain also benefit from orthotic.