Walking barefoot does often help bunions as walking barefoot can strengthen the muscles in your feet, which can also help support and align your big toe.
Walking barefoot also encourages a more natural foot posture and reduces pressure on your bunion.
Although in some cases, especially if you already suffer from poor alignment, walking barefoot, especially on hard surfaces can place excessive stress on the bunion and result in inflammation and pain.
Because bunions are a structural issue with the foot, the only way to shrink or get rid of the bunion is to have bunion surgery.
People get bunions for a variety of reasons which include foot structure, genetics, poor fitting shoes, age, certain medical conditions, trauma, etc.
An injury to your big toe joint can damage the ligaments and bones and result in the development of bunions.
Medical conditions such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis can also increase the risk of the development of bunions.
Aging can result in bunions as the ligaments and tendons in your feet become weaker as time goes by and bunions are also more common in older adults although anyone of any age can get bunions.
And wearing shoes which are too tight, narrow or high heeled can place excessive pressure on your big toe joints and lead to the formation of bunions.
So wearing proper fitting shoes is important to help prevent bunions from forming and prevent the bunions from getting worse.
And people that have flat feet, flexible joints or high arches are also more likely to develop bunions.
And bunions also tend to run in families which suggest that bunions are a genetic predisposition.
Bunions are bony bumps which form at the base of your big toe joint.
Bunions don't go away on their own although surgery can be done to get rid of the bunion and various treatments can help manage the pain and prevent the bunions from getting worse.
Wearing shoes that have a wide toe box, good arch support and low heels can help alleviate the pressure on the bunion and reduce pain.
And using custom or even over the counter orthotics can help to realign your foot and reduce pressure on the bunion and even using bunion pads can cushion the bunion and protect the bunion from friction.
Toe spacers and toe splints can also help keep your big toe in a more natural position and can help with any pain.