If you have bunions, you are already aware of how painful and uncomfortable wearing too-tight shoes can be. They will also make the situation worse by aggravating it.

If you have bunions and own a pair of shoes that are too small for your feet, you have two choices:

• Stretch them to make them more comfortable for you.
• Invest in some shoes that are made with bunions in mind.

How to stretch shoes for bunion: 

Take it To a Shoe Maker:

Naturally, shoemakers and shoe repair facilities have the necessary tools and equipment to stretch shoes. Sadly, these stores are getting harder and harder to discover, but if you can, they can be an excellent alternative.

 

Use a Professional Shoe Stretching Tool:

Typically, a liquid or spray is included with shoe stretchers that you use on your shoe before inserting the stretcher into it. For a number of shoe materials, including fabric, leather, and vinyl, stretching solutions and sprays are available. By loosening the material, they improve the effectiveness of stretching.

To expand the shoe after inserting the stretcher, turn the handle that widens it. Once your shoes are broad enough, leave the shoe stretcher inside for 24 hours.

 Apply Heat:

Due to the risk of other materials being damaged by the heat, this simple procedure works best on shoes made of leather or suede.

Put on a thick pair of socks before slipping your feet into your shoes and heating them up. Next, take a hair dryer, set it to the highest setting, and direct the hot air at the narrow parts of your shoe. Continue blowing hot air while wiggling and flexing your toes and foot to extend the shoe.

Wear your shoes and thick socks a little while longer after turning off the dryer.

 Use Rubbing Alcohol Spray:

Spray or rub your shoes with a mixture of 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol. After treating the shoes with the alcohol, put them on right away. If required, repeat the procedure. Don't use the spray excessively, though, as this could harm the fabric of the shoes. Natural fabrics respond best to this technique.

Do tight shoes make bunions worse?

The short answer is: yes!

The more thorough response is that biomechanical defects in the foot that are either inherited or present from birth produce bunions. Women are more likely to develop bunions than males because of more motion caused by more flexible joints and ligaments in women. By causing the bones to move out of place, this excessive movement aggravates the deficient foot structure and leads to bunions.

Other foot issues including flat feet and irregular bone structure can also cause bunions to form.

The forefoot is forced forward into the toe box if the problematic area of the bunions is jammed in the shoe, as is the case with shoes that are excessively tight. This causes the toes to crowd together, puts pressure on the big toe, aggravates the problem with the foot structure, and makes bunions worse.

 

Can shoes be stretched to accommodate bunions?

Just under the big toe, on the inside of the foot, bunions produce a hump that angles the big toe in the direction of the second toe. Naturally, this bump widens the foot and may enlarge as a result of pressure from the shoe.

In other words, bunions can make it difficult to find shoes that fit properly in addition to causing pain and even balance problems.

 It can be helpful to stretch shoes to fit bunions, and you can even get effective stretchers that push the toe box precisely over the bunion's hump.

 But even while stretching can be beneficial, there are other considerations to make when looking for the best shoes for bunions.

Why It's Better To Buy Shoes For Bunions Rather Than Stretch Them?

As we've already established, bunions are mostly caused by an increase in foot motion, and other foot issues like overpronation can exacerbate the problem. Therefore, investing in footwear that addresses these problems can also benefit your bunions.

 More precisely, high-quality orthotics can address overpronation and the increased motion it creates, which in turn reduces the symptoms, pain, and discomfort associated with bunions. These orthotics support the arch, align the foot, help straighten the toes, and correct the gait.

Moreover, many podiatrists believe that wearing orthotics in the early stages of bunions can greatly slow down the bunions' development.

Look for the following design features and shoes:

 

• The front is wide enough to comfortably fit bunions and toes. The ideal toe box for bunions is broad, tall, round, and deep enough for the big toe. Additionally, extra-deep shoes make it possible to use custom orthotics if necessary and assist reduce excessive motion.

 

• Shoes with a wide width and a deep toe box can significantly reduce the severity of your bunions, offer relief, and stop them from growing worse.

 

• shoes made of a stretchy material that relieves pressure on bunions. The material that can stretch and mold to the shape of your foot and bunion is the greatest pressure-free material.

 

• Since this size of your bunion might alter over time and even during the day, you should choose shoes with straps or laces that allow you to adjust the fit if necessary.

 

• Shoes with low heels or flat soles that don't crush your feet into the ground and press against your toes are preferable.

 

• An ergonomic sole is one that evenly distributes pressure throughout the foot and, ideally, has a slight rocker to reduce joint motion.