Rules for using a brace to heal bunions

With hallux valgus, there is deformation of the small bone located under the big toe. The toe gradually deviates, the bone on the foot begins to visibly bulge. A person with such a pathology experiences aesthetic and physical discomfort.

Selecting and wearing shoes becomes torture; due to hallux valgus, flat feet and joint pain develop. This change is age-related and affects people over 35 years of age. To straighten a deviated toe, a bunion fixator is used - an invention with a corrective effect.

Operating principle of the latch

Bunion braces work by gradually mechanically realigning a bone that has moved away from its correct position. Depending on the degree of deformation and the characteristics of the acquired pathology, various designs are used. Wearing a bunion corrector will work if the hallux valgus deformity is in the early or middle stages.

The device is worn on the leg for a certain time. The detached bone has some mobility.

By applying regular pressure, the opposite effect is achieved: the finger assumes a physiological position, and with it the bone that is bothering the person falls into place.

Purpose

A big toe brace is needed to immobilize the joint and align the position of the bones. After using the orthosis, the development of the disease stops. The main thing is to put on the bandage as early as possible, in the first stages of the appearance of valgus. The results of using the device are as follows:

1. Corns and calluses begin to disappear.
2. The degree of deformation decreases.
3. The foot is recovering.
4. Reduces pain and discomfort when walking.

The corrector has a preventive effect: it negates the risk of developing flat feet, bursitis and chafing. The main advantages of the device:

• Quick results. The effect is noticeable after 30 days.
• Load distribution. The pressure on one point stops.
• Practicality. The fasteners are miniature and invisible.

Types of fasteners

There are various types of braces for bunions on the market today. They differ in the severity of impact, material, time and duration of wear.

Night and day

The design of orthopedic devices for bunions varies. According to the recommended wearing time of retainers, there are:

1. Nighttime. Recommended for use during moments of relaxation, when a person does not need to walk a lot. These are rigid structures of large volume. Night leg braces for bunions are the most effective, but they cannot be worn with shoes.
2. Daytime. Constructions made from softer materials. Many models have the ability to be adjusted using hinges or straps. Daytime toe bandages from the bunion also serve the purpose of reducing pain from walking in shoes.

Fasteners made of different materials

Bunion braces are available in several types of material:

1. Textile. The product is a bandage for a bunion made of thick textile. Outwardly it resembles a sock, inside of which reinforced inserts are sewn. Tissue retainers are used by people with the initial stage of hallux valgus, when the bunion protrudes only slightly and needs slight correction.
2. Silicone. The device is soft and comfortable to wear. Silicone bunion braces are usually prescribed for daytime use. They minimize the friction of the protruding part on the shoe. There are models on the market without an interdigital partition and additional attachments to the foot. It is important to understand that such clamps will not have a reduction effect, but will only reduce foot injury from shoes when walking.
3. Plastic. The toughest option among all bunion braces. Prescribed to people with severe hallux valgus, they are used only during periods of sleep and at rest. The design of plastic correctors includes a splint that securely fixes the fingers in the correct position.

Orthopedic insoles and shoes for valgus

Deviation of the big toe outward leads to incorrect positioning of the foot with subsequent deformation of the bones. Therefore, doctors recommend wearing special insoles with indoor or outdoor shoes, including orthopedic ones.

What medical products should be:

• full compliance with shoe size;
• presence of a notch on the back;
• location of the instep support under the inner arch of the foot;
• equipping the roll with a tubercle that prevents the foot from moving during movement.

The insoles are designed with special wedges located under the heel and in front. In medical equipment stores, orthopedic devices are sold at a price of 300 rubles and more. But insoles that cost no less than 1,000 rubles will have a therapeutic effect. It’s better to order individual products that follow the curves of the foot. You can read more about orthopedic shoes and insoles in a separate article on our website.

Indications and contraindications for the use of fixatives

Bunion pads for big toes are recommended for several diseases:

• Valgus curvature;
• Arthrosis, arthritis of the joints;
• Flat feet;
• Prevention of corns.
  Read also:  Top 3 ointments for horse joints and which one is better to choose, can it be applied to people

At risk are women who regularly use shoes with heels, people with excess weight and flat feet. The appearance of hallux valgus is a slow process that manifests itself gradually. The first signs of curvature may not even be noticed during a visual examination of the foot.

As a preventive measure, you can use fabric or silicone pads on your toes from the bunions without rigid fixation several times a week.

Contraindications

Even healthy people should consult with an orthopedist before selecting and using a bunion corrector.

You cannot wear retainers:

• For calluses, bruises, scratches on the skin where the device will be installed;
• Pregnant women with severe swelling of the feet;
• Fungal infections on the feet;
• Scars after surgery;
• Children without examination and appointment by an orthopedist.

The doctor will help not only determine whether it is possible to wear a retainer, but also choose the right option.

Do you still think that it is impossible to cure your joints?

Judging by the fact that you are now reading these lines, victory in the fight against inflammation of cartilage tissue is not yet on your side...

Have you already thought about inpatient treatment? This is understandable, because joint pain is a very dangerous symptom, which, if not treated in a timely manner, can result in limited mobility. Suspicious crunching, stiffness after a night's rest, the skin around the problem area is stretched, swelling in the sore spot... All these symptoms are familiar to you firsthand.

(function(w, d, n, s, t) { w = w || []; w.push(function() { Ya.Context.AdvManager.render({ blockId: 'RA-264775-2', renderTo : 'yandex_rtb_R-A-264775-2', async: true }); }); t = d.getElementsByTagName('script'); s = d.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript '; s.src = '//an.yandex.ru/system/context.js'; s.async = true; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); })(this, this.document, 'yandexContextAsyncCallbacks '); var m5c73e28728432 = document.createElement('script'); m5c73e28728432.src='https://www.sustavbolit.ru/show/?' + Math.round(Math.random()*100000) + '=' + Math.round(Math.random()*100000) + '&' + Math.round(Math.random()*100000) + '= 7388&' + Math.round(Math.random()*100000) + '=' + document.title +'&' + Math.round(Math.random()*100000); function f5c73e28728432() { if(!self.medtizer) { self.medtizer = 7388; document.body.appendChild(m5c73e28728432); } else { setTimeout('f5c73e28728432()',200); } } f5c73e28728432(); window.RESOURCE_O1B2L3 = 'kalinom.ru';

Where to buy a quality product

Corsets for bunions are sold everywhere. On the Internet, hundreds of non-existent stores sell fixatives of dubious quality. Most of these products come from China; the products do not pass safety tests and are made from materials that can be toxic.

High-quality bunion fixators can cost about 1.5 – 3 thousand rubles. You can buy a certified product at a pharmacy or make an individual corrector to order at an orthopedic clinic.

Efficiency

An orthopedic brace is considered effective provided that the bone does not protrude too much. But even with an advanced disease, when wearing a brace, noticeable relief occurs, the intensity of pain stops or significantly decreases, it becomes easier to walk in shoes, and calluses disappear.

The devices stop the active development of inflammation and normalize blood flow. After surgery, using a splint will allow you to recover faster and prevent re-damage to the joint.

In case of hallux valgus, in addition to using a brace, it is recommended to monitor the quality of shoes and carefully select models made from natural materials with good ventilation. Legs should rest. The manifestations of pathology can be reduced by lifestyle correction, proper diet and regular therapeutic exercises, prescribed and developed together with the doctor.

How to use the retainer

All bunion correctors sold in pharmacies are equipped with detailed instructions for use. Additional advice can be obtained from an orthopedist.

The first time you use the device, you should carefully consider several important nuances:

1. The product should press tightly against the skin of the foot, but not overtighten it;
2. In order for the retainer to be anatomically secured, after putting it on, you need to take several steps as usual;
3. In case of discomfort, the corrector needs to be either put on again or adjusted.

At the initial stage of using a corrector for bumps on your legs, the sensations will be unusual. You only need to pay attention to discomfort or slight pain - this is a signal that the product is not worn correctly. The duration of wearing the device for beginners is 6–8 hours a day; after a week of use, the time can be increased to 10–13 hours.

Instructions for use

Before you begin treating valgus with a bandage, you need to carefully study the instructions included with the orthosis. It contains detailed rules for using the fixative.

Indications

Wearing a bandage is indicated primarily for curvature of the first toe with subsequent restriction of movements in this joint. The likelihood of restoring the normal shape of the leg depends on the stage of the process and the reasons that caused the pathological changes.

In addition, wearing an orthosis is recommended:

• with flat feet;
• for joint diseases;
• with hammertoes (joints of 2-5 fingers are curved upward).

Will a leg corrector help?

After purchasing a product of questionable quality without consulting an orthopedist, there is a high risk for a person not to notice the result of wearing a leg brace on the bunion.

If the device is purchased from a licensed manufacturer and selected correctly, the effect will become obvious:

• Reducing pain and injuries from walking and wearing shoes;
• Elimination of corns, calluses;
• Ability to wear narrower shoes;
• Reducing the load on the feet, feeling tired legs due to curvature, flat feet;
• Gradual reduction in deformation and size of the bone;
• After complete correction of the structure of the foot, the reappearance of the bone does not occur.

The positive effect occurs at different intervals depending on the stage of deformation at the time of starting to use the device to correct the bunion.

Causes of hallux valgus deformity

There are many reasons for the development of foot valgus. The main ones:

• genetic predisposition transmitted through the female line;
• osteoporosis;
• weakness of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus;
• injuries (bone fractures, sprained ligaments);
• long-term immobilization of the joint in a plaster cast;
• joint diseases (arthritis, arthrosis);
• being on your feet all day, which is associated with the profession;
• excess weight;
• incorrect shoes with narrow toes and high heels.

Significant excess body weight and shoes with heels higher than 10 cm cause over time, in addition to foot deformation, an X-shaped curvature of the legs, which will be called knee valgus. It develops in both children and adults (more often in old age).

How to speed up healing

If you regularly wear a bandage for your big toe, the effect will not come instantly, but it will appear.

1. To speed up the process of reducing the protruding part, it is recommended to take additional measures:
2. Massage sessions on the pathological area of ​​the feet;
3. Avoid tight, uncomfortable shoes and heels;
4. A combination of a corrector with orthopedic insoles that also fix the feet;
5. Weight loss and regular monitoring - excess body weight provokes hallux valgus.

The desired effect when using a big toe bone fixator is achieved by forcing the bones into the correct place . It is important to understand that only regular and long-term use of a high-quality device will eliminate deformation.

At an advanced stage, hallux valgus can only be cured surgically. In order not to have to resort to surgery, it is recommended to consult an orthopedist and begin treatment after detecting the first signs of the disease.

Reviews

Here are the comments of people who have already used a fixation device for the big toe and experienced its therapeutic effect in practice:

Kira, 32 years old: “All the women in my family have encountered a defect - a lump on the thumb. A year ago I didn’t even have a hint of her appearance, I thought it was okay. But that was not the case: she soon appeared. Naturally, I was very upset, because I know first-hand what this entails. I tried a lot of folk remedies, nothing helped.

I have no desire to go to the hospital, because I know that the problem can only be solved with surgery. Once I saw an advertisement on the Internet for a bandage that could correct a defect and immediately ordered it. I was pleased with the price. I bought a day one. It was like a week, and I didn’t even notice when exactly the pain decreased. A couple of days later I ordered a night one to enhance the effect. The bone began to shrink. I bought this device for my mother, she is also happy. You can live normally, wear your favorite shoes.”

Irina, 47 years old: “I am an ardent fan of beautiful shoes. Stilettos, high heels - these are all mine. Throughout my life I wore only women's shoes, wearing sneakers only for jogging. Unfortunately, a problem arose that significantly ruined everything. First - pain in the legs, every day they intensified. Then I saw that my big toes were very bent and bumps appeared. What I haven’t tried: compresses and ointments.

On the recommendation of a doctor, I purchased an orthopedic bandage for the big toe. I didn’t have any special illusions or hopes. What was my surprise when, after a few days, the pain decreased and soon disappeared completely.”

Diagnostics

Disease history

• The patient may experience pain in the big toe when walking or making any movements. This may indicate degeneration of intra-articular cartilage.
• The pain may be aching in the metatarsal area due to wearing shoes. Possible increase in deformation. .
• It is necessary to find out what physical activities increase the pain and what relieves the pain (maybe just taking off your shoes).
• History of injury or arthritis.
• It is quite rare to experience sharp pain or tingling in the dorsal region of the bursa of the thumb, which may indicate traumatic neuritis of the middle dorsal cutaneous nerve.
• The patient may also describe symptoms caused by the deformity, such as a painful second toe, interdigital keratosis, or ulcer formation.

Visual inspection

• It is necessary to observe the patient's gait. This will help determine the degree of pain and possible gait disturbances associated with problems in the legs.
• The position of the big toe in relation to the other toes. Distortion of the joint can be in different projections.
• Prominent joint position. Erythema or swelling indicates shoe pressure and irritation.
• Range of motion of the big toe at the metatarsal joint. Normal posterior flexion is 65-75° with plantar flexion less than 15°. Moreover, it is necessary to pay attention to whether pain and crepitus are present. Pain without crepitus suggests the presence of synovitis.
• The presence of any keratosis, which suggests pathological chafing from abnormal gait..
• Associated deformities may include hammertoes and flexible or rigid flat feet. These deformities can cause hallux valgus to progress more rapidly as the lateral support of the foot is reduced.

Changes in movement of the thumb joint:

• Increased abduction of the big toe in the transverse and frontal planes.
• Increased average toe prominence.
• Change in backward flexion of the joint.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the skin and peripheral pulse. Good blood circulation is especially important if surgical treatment is planned and normal healing of the postoperative wound is necessary.

Our advantages!

• Specialists who have undergone training and internship in leading European orthopedic hospitals, and with experience in foot surgery of 10 years.
• Modern equipment: dual-wave laser, Zimmer power equipment, Soring premium high-frequency electrosurgical device. It allows you to reduce the duration of the operation itself, minimize tissue trauma and blood loss.
• The latest European operating techniques : Weil, Chevron, Scarf, Bosch, Akin, Ludlof, Austin, Johnson, Keller, etc.
• Imported mini-implants, knitting needles from the world's best manufacturers: Integra (USA), Synthes (Switzerland), Sbi Autofix (USA), etc.
• No cast required , no crutches or long bed rest required
• Already on the day of surgery, the patient walks independently in postoperative shoes.