How to Wear Heels With Bunions Without The Pain

Bunions are an abnormal, bony growth that typically appears by the big toe and is something that many women deal with at some point in their lives. This can be a hereditary condition, but it is most commonly caused by wearing improper footwear like high heels. Bunions can become aggravated and made worse when wearing tight and narrow shoes that do not offer a lot of room in the toe box. However, despite the pain and issues they can cause for many people wearing high heels is a major part of their wardrobe.

If you are dealing with a bunion, then you will need some help when it comes to continuously wear high heels, which is why we have written this guide.

Can I Wear High Heels with A Bunion?

This is a question that many women have asked, and unfortunately, the answer is no. If you have a bunion, then high heels are only going to aggravate it and make this issue worse, so it is recommended for you to avoid this kind of footwear completely if you do not want things to get worse.

However, this is not something most women want to hear, and luckily there are some things you can do if you want to continue wearing footwear with a heel.

How To Wear High Heels With A Bunion

If you do have a bunion on your foot, then it is possible for you to still wear heels and footwear that have a high heel to it while remaining comfortable. There are some things you can do to help your feet and prevent the bunion from getting worse while still wearing the shoes you want. This includes:

1) Foot Exercises

With a bunion, it can be very painful to walk, and you may find that shoes with a heel make this pain worse. Keeping yourself fit and active is a great way to improve your health overall, but it can also help with bunion pain. There are some specific foot exercises that you can do, many of which are recommended by a podiatrist and can be easily found online, that will ease the pain of a bunion.

These are based around stretching the feet, making them flexible, and aligning key muscle groups to prevent discomfort around the big toe, which is where bunions are located.

2) Gel Toe Spreaders

For those who have a bunion on their foot, one of the best things you can buy is a gel toe spreader. This can be found at almost all shoe stores, as well as in chemists, and are usually affordable. You may find that the pain your bunions cause is located mainly around your toes, which is why you should get one of these toe spreaders.

These are handy tools that are used to separate your toes, giving the foot a good stretch, and exercising the muscles without you having to do anything too active. Simply use these toe spreaders for 20 to 30 minutes per day to see improved results.

3) Alternate Heel Height

For those dealing with bunions, wearing a mixture of shoes throughout the week that has a different heel height can help. To take off some of the pressure, you will feel in the feet when dealing with bunions, try to wear a mixture of footwear that will support the feet like sneakers or flats as well as high heels. This will exercise different muscle groups in the foot, preventing too much pressure being placed on one area and can reduce bunions.

4) Avoid Super High Heels

When it comes to comfort, many women will avoid wearing skinny high heels for a long time due to the fact these can cause a lot of strain in the feet. If you are dealing with bunions, you may find it helpful to avoid these kinds of shoes completely. This does not mean that you cannot wear shoes with heels ever again, just choose those with a wider heel that will offer more support and stability.

The higher the heel of the shoe means, the more the pressure is being put on the front of your feet, which is not only painful but also makes bunions worse.

5) Use A Non-Slip Sole

When it comes to dealing with bunions, you need to consider how secure and stable your shoes are. The more stable your shoes are, the more comfortable they will be as your feet will not be sliding around in them, and pressure will not be placed on specific areas like the big toe or ball of the foot where bunions are.

Consider heeled shoes that have a synthetic non-slip sole, which will not only offer stability to your feet and reduce the pain of bunions but is also very useful in wet and slippery weather conditions meaning the shoes can be worn all year long.

6) Choose Soft Materials

Finding a shoe that is made from soft and flexible leather will not only provide durability, as this material can last a long time and can be treated, but will also offer support to bunions. Shoes made from this kind of material can stretch and will develop a natural shape that fits around your foot, offering support to where you need it most.

Choosing shoes that are made from a soft material will also prevent a ‘breaking in period’, which can make bunions worse and is very painful. Instead, the shoe will be flexible enough to fit your feet no matter how wide they are, offering plenty of room and comfort even to those with bunions.

7) Learn How To Walk In Heels

You may think that you already know how to properly walk in heels, but most people walk toe-to-heel in these kinds of shoes rather than heel-to-toe as they think it offers them more balance. Walking in this manner puts more pressure on your bunions and can cause a lot of pain, as most of your body weight is being held by the forefoot.

If you are dealing with bunions, it will help you to be mindful of the way you walk in your shoes particularly heels and ensure that you are doing so in the correct manner to prevent further pain or damage.