Podiatry
Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
A bony lump at the base of the big toe that forms as the toe gradually drifts towards the lesser toes.
A bunion is a common bony lump that forms at the base of the big toe joint. It develops when the big toe gradually rotates out of its normal position towards the lesser toes, while the base of the joint sticks outward on the side of the foot.
Risk factors & causes
Although it can look like a simple positional problem, how bunions form is multifactorial. It's an acquired condition, not something present at birth, and researchers consider bunions to be the result of a complex combination of internal and external factors.
In the foot, the big toe is stabilised by two small muscles on either side. When one of these — typically the abductor hallucis — becomes too weak to function properly, it's overpowered by its opposing muscle, leading to the characteristic drift and bump at the big toe joint.
Above the foot, your leg flexibility, muscle strength, alignment, and control all influence your gait, which in turn affects how forces load through your foot. Drift in the big toe can result from repetitive high loading through the joint as part of your natural gait pattern.
Changes to your health, such as arthritis or hormonal shifts, are also known to alter joint shape and increase ligament laxity, which can contribute to toe misalignment. Enclosed, tight, and narrow footwear — like steel-cap boots, high heels, and court shoes — can accelerate this process by restricting movement of the big toe joint.
- Family history
- Increased body weight
- A previous fracture or injury to the area
- Increasing age
- Being female
- Footwear choices
- Activities that require being on your feet all day
Common symptoms
- A noticeable drift of the big toe towards the lesser toes
- A gradual, hard lump that forms at the base of the big toe
- Red or purple skin discolouration over the lump
- Corns or callus around the lump and adjacent toes
- Pain that worsens when wearing narrow footwear
- Stiffness in the big toe
Assessment & treatment
Grading
Bunions are typically graded based on the severity of the presentation:
- Grade 1Normal
- Normal alignment between the toes
- No deformity
- Grade 2Mild
- Mild drift of the big toe towards the lesser toes
- The bump is visible but not prominent
- Grade 3Moderate
- The big toe pushes into the 2nd toe
- The bump is prominent
- Retraction of the 2nd toe and clawing of the lesser toes may be present
- Friction and blistering between the toes
- Possible joint pain
- Grade 4Severe
- The big toe subluxes or overlaps the adjacent 2nd toe
- A prominent bump with gross forefoot deformity
- Crowding of the lesser toes
- Constant friction and blistering
- Restricted big toe movement
- Possible joint pain and difficulty walking
Treatment
Treatment depends on your presentation, function, pain levels, and aesthetic concerns. Your clinician will review your medical history and assess your biomechanics to guide the best approach for you. For mild cases, bunions can sometimes be slowed or partially improved with intrinsic foot-strengthening exercises, appropriate footwear, and custom orthotics.
Once a bunion has progressed to the moderate or severe grades, reversal generally isn't possible, and treatment becomes a holding strategy ahead of possible surgical intervention. Toe braces and splints have been shown by research to help with pain, but not to reverse the angle of the big toe. Your podiatrist will conduct a biomechanical assessment of your gait, foot function, and joint mobility, and present the options best suited to your situation.
How Simba Health treats Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
Our podiatry clinicians assess the cause of your symptoms and build a personalised, evidence-based plan to treat Bunions (Hallux Valgus). With no GP referral required and initial appointments from $109, you can start care quickly at a clinic near you.
Podiatry near you
Frequently asked questions
No. You can book podiatry directly at Simba Health with no GP referral, so you can start treatment for Bunions (Hallux Valgus) without delay. Initial appointments start from $109. A referral may still help if you're claiming under a care plan.
Bunions (Hallux Valgus) is treated under our podiatry service, with initial consultations from $109 and lower follow-up fees. We keep our pricing transparent so you know what to expect before your appointment.
Our podiatry clinicians assess the underlying cause of your symptoms, then build a personalised, evidence-based treatment plan for Bunions (Hallux Valgus). Many people start to notice improvement once the right plan is underway.
Not sure this is right for you?
Call us and we'll help you find the right service and clinician for your needs.
(02) 9188 0544