Bunions, medically known as hallux valgus, are a common foot condition characterized by a bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe, where it connects to the foot. This deformity often develops gradually and can cause discomfort, pain, and difficulty wearing certain types of footwear.

Common Causes of Bunions

  1. Genetics: Bunions can be hereditary, meaning they may run in families.

  2. Footwear: Wearing shoes that are too tight or narrow can contribute to the development of bunions, as they put pressure on the toes.

  3. Foot Structure: Certain foot structures, such as flat feet or excessive pronation, can increase the risk of developing bunions.

Symptoms of Bunions

  1. Bony Bump: A visible and often painful bump on the side of the big toe joint.

  2. Pain: The area around the bunion can become sore and tender, especially when pressure is applied.

  3. Swelling: The affected area may become swollen and inflamed.

  4. Changes in Foot Shape: Over time, the big toe may begin to point inward, toward the other toes, causing a misalignment of the foot.

Treating Bunions Conservatively

  1. Proper Footwear: Wearing shoes with a wide toe box and good arch support can help relieve pressure on the bunion.

  2. Orthotic Devices: Custom shoe inserts or orthotic devices can be used to provide support and correct foot mechanics.

  3. Padding: Pads or cushions can be applied to the bunion to reduce friction and pressure.

  4. Ice and Medications: Applying ice packs and using over-the-counter pain medications can help reduce pain and inflammation.

In cases where conservative treatments do not provide sufficient relief or the bunion becomes severely painful and limits daily activities, a doctor may recommend surgical intervention. Bunion surgery aims to realign the toe and remove the bony bump.

Preventing the worsening of bunions involves wearing appropriate footwear, avoiding high heels or shoes with narrow toe boxes, and maintaining foot health through regular stretching and exercises.

KT Tape for Bunions Video Transcription

A Bunion is when the great toe, the big toe, points towards the second toe in at an ankle like this sometimes creating a big bump on the side of the great toe and this can be a painful condition. This condition is often inherited or caused by tight-fitting shoes or from a prior injury. KT Tape tape helps treat this condition by correcting this alignment and relieving pressure. for this application we're going to take a full strip of tape, and we're going to cut that tape right down the middle to create two long strips and once we cut that, what we're going to do is then roll the tape over and we're going to cut round ends on the tape. The round ends help any sharp corners not get caught on clothing or socks as you're taking socks on and off. So it's always good to cut these around corners.

We're going to take one of these long strips and just twist and tear the paper backing on the last inch of one of the strips. we're going to measure back from the great toe, the joint just behind the great toe, and place that anchor with absolutely no stretch on it around the underside of the heal, the back side of the heel and take that paper backing leaving a little paper on there just to handle the tape we're going to pull this around the heel with no real stretch on the tapes till you get to about the mid arch and from here you're going apply about an eighty percent stretch so if you stretch it all the way a hundred percent back that off just a little bit that's about eighty percent. Go ahead and lay that down. And that last little bit going around the big toe has absolutely no stretch on it.

Just give it quick friction rub to create a little heat and adhesion and take our second strip. And again tearing a paper backing to create a little one-inch anchor and you're go place just behind and slightly above that first piece just to get it on the skin. This adheres very well to the skin. We're going to peel that paper backing off and just like the first piece we're going to bring that around the heel to about the mid arch and then just lay that down with minimal stretch and that last little bit we're going to stretch out about eighty percent and go right around the big toe and just lay that down. A quick little friction rub to create some heat and some adhesion. With our next piece we're going to take this trip and fold it in half and cutting rounded corners to produce two short strips. Perfect!

We're going to twist and tear the paper backing, right in the middle, leaving a little paper on there being careful not to touch the adhesion or the adhesive on the tape. We're going to place this right over the joint or area of pain and applying with about eighty percent stretch, lay that down and you're going to remove the paper backing and lay the achors down or the ends down within no stretch. Very good! One more piece left which we created we're going to tear the paperbacking, peel that back leaving some handles to hang on to, being careful not to touch the adhesive. We're going to stretch that out about eighty percent and apply that right over that first piece just behind it getting some skin under the tape and just like the first piece peeling those anchors off with no stretch. Laying that down with no stretch on the ends of the tape. We're going to finish up by giving that a good friction rub to create some heat and good adhesion onto the skin! 

Summary

  • Bunion is a condition where the big toe points towards the second toe, causing a bump on the side and resulting in pain.
  • KT Tape helps treat bunions by correcting the alignment and relieving pressure.
  • To apply KT Tape for a bunion, a full strip of tape is cut into two long strips with round ends to prevent snagging on clothing or socks.
  • The first strip is applied with no stretch from the underside of the heel to the mid-arch, followed by an 80% stretch and no stretch around the big toe.
  • Additional short strips are applied with an 80% stretch over the joint or area of pain and over the first strip, with anchors placed with no stretch. A friction rub is done for better adhesion.

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