Are Ballet Flats Better for Bunions? | Dallas Podiatry Works (2024)

FAQs

Are Ballet Flats Better for Bunions? | Dallas Podiatry Works? ›

A flat may also fit too snugly around the bunion. If the shoe is too loose, your toes tend to scrunch to keep it from flopping off your heel, which can also aggravate a bunion. It is best to wear a quality leather shoe with a roomy toe box and sturdy heel counter.

Comfortable ballet flats for bunions do exist! It is important to invest in supportive ballet flats which will cushion and protect your feet. The best ballet flats for bunions will have a deep and wide toe-box which accommodates your bunion or the widest part of your foot which is generally the forefoot.

Ballet flats aren't exactly known for being comfortable and supportive. “Since ballet flats don't have arch support, your foot will overcompensate, leading to more pressure being placed on the arch of the foot, leading to instability of the ankle, knee, hip and back,” Brenner explains.

Most are rounded and don't provide enough wiggle room for actual toes. Ballet flats are strapless, so it can be a struggle to keep them on your feet. Your toes end up doing a lot of grip work, which can lead to muscle strain, claw toe, and other toe deformities.

For people with bunions, shoes with wide toe boxes, stretchy materials and strong arch support are best to reduce friction and irritation. Look for wide options to accommodate your bunion and avoid putting pressure on the toe joints.

Gentle mobilisation: When sitting down, pull your big toe away from the others by grabbing it and gently pulling it with your hand. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3-5 times. You can perform this a few times in a day.

ASOS DESIGN Wide Fit League Velvet Mary Jane Ballet Flats

For extremely on-trend and affordable shoes for wider feet, ASOS is a great resource. Many styles come in wide fit variations, like these classic Mary Janes in crushed velvet.

Sketchers DO NOT have appropriate stability in the upper fabric and the heel counter to complement an orthotic. As such, you will probably find the orthotic redundant, or in worse case contributing to the cause of injury. Remember, an orthotic does 50% of the work. The shoe does the other 50%.

Wearing ballet flats for long periods of time can also lead to injuries such as shin splints and stress fractures due to repetitive stress and little arch support. A shin splint, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, causes pain along the tibia, or the shin bone, which runs in the front of the lower leg.

What is the new help for bunions? ›

Lapiplasty® is a new procedure using patented technology to correct not only the bunion, but its root cause. It straightens three dimensions of alignment of the metatarsal bone.

Our pick for the best shoe for bunions overall, the Hoka Ora Recovery 2 is extra supportive with a wide toe box. As the best walking shoe for bunions, the Keen WK400 Leather Walking Shoe is solid for long walks.

Here's a guideline for shoes to avoid with bunions: Bring it on down. High heels like stilettos put pressure on your forefoot and squish your toes together. Think about it—if your big toe is forced against your other toes, your bunion will be sticking out even more, and that invites friction to the party.

Ballet flats might be the "opposite" of high heels, but when it comes to bunion development they're nearly as bad. Typical flats have many unfortunate characteristics that make them ill-suited for bunions.

More brands than ever, from Miu Miu to Steve Madden, are offering the shoes at every price point—the look is finally on an even playing field. Now that it's officially warm enough to pack away your knee-high boots for the next few months, it's the perfect time to give this playful spring 2024 trend a go.

Ballet is one of the activities that can exacerbate bunion development. Some classical technique issues can contribute to bunion development. If the dancer places too much weight on the toe and joints rather than the tip of the toe, the pressure can increase the chance of the joint position changing.

Toe Guards: A guard slips over and separates the big toe while protecting the bunion. Socks: Well-padded socks can be a good preventative against injuries while providing ample comfort. Some come with built-in toe pockets and separators to further support the bunion.

Wearing tight, narrow shoes might cause bunions or make them worse. Bunions can also develop as a result of the shape of your foot, a foot deformity or a medical condition, such as arthritis. Smaller bunions (bunionettes) can develop on the joint of your little toe.

Good shoes for bunions will have a wide toe box, good arch support, and a cushioned footbed. Look for shoes with wide options to better accommodate your bunion and avoid putting further pressure on your toe joints.