If you have one or more bunions, you know how difficult they make your life. Especially with all of the pavement pounding New York City requires. From finding shoes that fit to baring your feet at the pool to swelling after walking, bunions are a pain.
At City Podiatry in Midtown New York City, we understand the frustration and discomfort bunions bring. Our team of expert podiatrists is dedicated to providing our patients with high-quality, comprehensive foot care. We routinely help patients manage unsightly and uncomfortable bunions with electrical stimulation therapy.
We’ve curated this guide to help you understand bunions and how electrical stimulation therapy can help. Read on to learn more!
A bunion, or hallux valgus, is a bony bump or protrusion that develops at the big toe joint on the inside of the foot. These bony bothers develop slowly over time as the joint that connects your foot and big toe, or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, compresses and shifts out of place. When this happens, your big toe begins to bend in, toward your other toes, pushing your joint out. The result? A painful bunion.
At first, bunions may appear like small bumps, sores, or growths. As the joint gets pushed further out of place when you walk or stand, the bunion gets larger. Bunions can swell and become red and inflamed. This can cause your skin to stretch and become highly sensitive to touch.
Though anyone can develop bunions, they’re more common when you have a close family member with bunions. In other words, bunions tend to run in families. Other factors associated with the development of bunions include:
If you suspect you have a bunion, it’s important to seek an evaluation with a trained podiatrist, like the team at City Podiatry. An accurate diagnosis can make the difference in finding long-lasting relief from your bunions.
Electrical stimulation therapy is a treatment method that sends electrical pulses to injured or weak muscles. These mild pulses stimulate the muscle and activate nerves with the end goal of alleviating pain.
Recent studies indicate that weak muscles may play an important role in the pain and immobility associated with bunions. But the muscles associated with your feet can be difficult to strengthen, especially when you have bunions.
Electrical stimulation therapy offers a way to improve muscle function in the foot. The treatment is non-invasive and the electrical pulse doesn’t hurt. Your care provider carefully controls the intensity and frequency of the pulse delivered to your foot.
Your care provider places electrodes on the muscle that works your big toe. The electrical stimulation therapy machine then delivers low-intensity, wide-pulse, high-frequency electrical stimulation directly to the muscle.
No two bunions are exactly the same, so it’s important to receive electrical stimulation therapy from a trained provider. At City Podiatry, we take time to get to know you and your feet in order to deliver comprehensive, individualized treatment.
If you have or suspect you have bunions, our team at City Podiatry can help. In addition to evaluating your bunions and looking for any underlying issues with the internal structure of your foot, we provide many options for treatment, including electric stimulation.
Don’t battle the pain can bunions bring alone. Contact our Midtown New York City office or request an appointment online now!
