Bunions prevalent in older women

MELBOURNE, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A study of older people in Britain found bunion deformity in 36 percent and more frequently in women, British and Australian researchers say.

Hylton Menz of La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues at the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre in Keele University in England examined the prevalence of and factors associated with hallux valgus -- a common foot condition caused when the big toe bends in toward the smaller toes -- better known as bunions.

As the deformity progresses, the lateral displacement of the big toe begins to interfere with normal alignment and function of the smaller toes, leading to further deformities such as hammer toe or claw toe, altered weight-bearing patterns, and the development of corns and calluses, Menz says.

Menz says family history, wearing high-heeled shoes or shoes that are too narrow, and flat footedness have all been suggested as contributing factors to the development of bunions.

The study involved 2,831 participants who were age 56 or older who took part in the North Staffordshire Osteoarthritis Project, funded by the Medical Research Council.

"Our findings indicate that hallux valgus is a significant and disabling musculoskeletal condition that affects overall quality of life," Menz says in a statement.

"Interventions to correct or slow the progression of the deformity offer patients beneficial outcomes beyond merely localized pain relief."