Comfortable slippers for women with bunions

Bunions. The word itself indicates that it isn’t something you'd wish for. Also called hallux valgus in latin, this condition is a very painful thing that can be debilitating for your everyday life and function. 

Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to prevent or aid your feet, if a bunion has already started to appear on your foot. We will take you through what causes bunions and how you can prevent them from occurring or relieve the pain of an existing bunion. One of the things is, of course, the correct footwear. But more on that later.

What causes bunions?

Throughout history, pointy shoes have been a symbol of wealth. In the middle ages, the wealthy would wear pointy shoes to stand out from common footwear, which was much more practical. Since then, the recurring trends with shoes that aren’t exactly made with comfort in mind, have been one of the reasons why some many people, especially women, have had a lot of trouble with bunions. Some are more exposed than others due to genetics.

Our feet aren’t meant to be squeezed so tightly for long periods of time. It doesn’t benefit the health of the feet to wear heels either, as this causes pressure on the front part of the foot, which can also lead to bunions and sunken forefoot. 

Bunions occur when the big toe and especially the big toe joint, is squeezed together, causing the base of the joint to get out of its natural alignment with the rest of the toes. This causes a bump (bunion) on the side of the foot and it can be quite painful to experience. Luckily, there are a lot of things to do to alleviate achy feet here and now.

How to prevent bunions from occuring

If you have a family history of developing bunions, you might want to start to prevent them from occurring as early as possible. Especially women tend to develop bunions, as the level of oestrogen can sometimes affect joints, like the ones in the feet, as they are very active. There are some steps to take to prevent or postpone the development of bunions.  

• Lifestyle: Eating unhealthy, smoking and other activities that can cause inflammation in your body, should be avoided. Maintain a healthy weight to avoid mechanical load and chronic stress on your joints.
• Footwear: Always wear footwear with excellent cushioning, built in arch support and is naturally foot shaped.
• Do exercises that strengthen your feet and not just the rest of your body. 
• If you have to wear uncomfy footwear daily due to your job for instance, make sure that you have a healthy pair of slippers for when you get home, so your feet can restitute in a way that provides both comfort and healthy benefits.

How to alleviate existing bunions

Do you already have experience with bunions? Or maybe you have a suspicion that you are in the early stages of developing one due to a small, sore bump on the side of your foot? In the worst case, if your bunion gets too painful, it can be removed surgically, but this can be postponed and maybe totally avoided with a few easy steps.

• Your footwear: change your footwear to shoes with a wide toe box to give your toes more natural wiggle room. Make sure the sole is supportive without being too hard and avoid heels. Footwear with the proper arch support is a gift to someone experiencing bunion pain. In short, forget fashion, sacrifice style and focus on comfort.
• Toe spacers: Go to the pharmacy and get over the counter toe spacers, which gives your big toe support to stay in alignment with the rest of the toes. This alleviates the pain and discomfort, while keeping your toe in its place.
• Pain relief: Buy painkillers like ibuprofen to take the edge of the pain and discomfort. You can also apply an ice packet to help prevent swelling of the area. You can also soak your feet in warm water with foot salt to help the entire foot to relax.
• Foot exercises: Practice the flexibility of your feet and toes with small exercises to help improve natural movement of the entire foot. Practice picking up small objects with your toes, stretch them against a wall or use a small ball to roll back and forth with the entire foot. 

If the pain persists, gets worse or you end up having difficulty walking normally due to the pain, you need to contact your doctor.

Supportive shoes that relieve pressure

One of the best ways to both prevent and alleviate foot pain and bunions is to get some good, comfortable shoes with wide feet, strong arch support and flexible materials. This is where glerups footwear enters the stage. The slippers, shoes and boots made in natural materials, are perfect for many different foot problems, including bunions and the discomfort they can cause. 

glerups are good for foot health. The materials allow your skin to breathe while regulating the temperature, the sole helps with shock absorption and reduce pain, while the good arch support helps the entire foot relax. glerups are not only aesthetically pleasing with their quiet elegance and pretty colors, they are an investment in your long term foot health. No heels, just supportive arches. 

Even severe bunions will find comfort in glerups footwear. The health of your feet starts with the right footwear – so why not invest in the most comfortable slippers on the market? With glerups your feet will thank you in the long run.