Look down..at your big toe. Is it starting to drift across toward your other toes? Is there a large bump contour developing on the inside of the base of your big toe. The more progressed condition of this malalignment is called a bunion and can become gradually more painful. If your foot or low limb alignment (genetic component as well) has not been efficient over time this can result in sustained repeated weight bearing pressure on the inside edge of your big toe pushing it across and can slowly stretch the metatarsal phalangeal joint capsule. Adaptive thickening and inflammation can result in the formation of a bunion. Bony arthritic joint changes can result also over time in response to excessive strain. A quick test: as you slowly walk over your foot note where on your big toe the weight-bearing pressure is – does it pass under the middle of the toe pad OR can you feel the pressure is more along the inside edge of your big toe .. this can have an effect of repeatedly pushing the little phalangeal toe bones across creating chronic stretch forces of this joint and capsule. Lower limb biomechanics can contribute to mechanical dysfunction. If your foot overpronates, the arch drops, or if your knee rolls in as you walk ( you can usually see this as you walk toward a mirror), if the muscles in your hip are weak or lateral thigh muscles are tight – any one of these issues, and often a combination of them can result in medial loading of the inside edge of your big toe. All these factors can be addressed by your Physiotherapist..and the sooner the better.
