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Hallux valgus it makes women suffer especially, also because of high-heeled shoes. The age at the highest risk of occurrence of the problem is between 40 and 60 years, when the classic alterations of the foot mechanics begin to appear.
Genetics also matter a little. This does not mean that you are born with the “curse” of hallux valgus, but that you may be predisposed to a particular laxity of the ligaments and muscles that can lead to flat foot, to alterations of the big toe or to a particularly arched foot in which loads all the weight on the fingers, in particular on the first metatarsal. Then there can come the classic lesions related to hallux valgus, that is, those that are defined as “onions”.
What to do
From the point of view of the treatment, it is always necessary that it is a specialist doctor, in this case the orthopedist, to give advice on the right attitude to take.
In terms of prevention, remember that if there are cases in the family, but not only, you must pay attention to footwear, since there are orthopedic insoles and shoes able to reduce the excessive load moved on the front part of the foot. Physiotherapy treatments can be useful, especially when discomfort can also occur in other areas related to the presence of hallux valgus, in particular ankle and knee.
Sometimes it comes to surgery which must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. And it must also be taken into account that the results can sometimes be not completely satisfactory.
Precautions
Therefore, always refer to the expert and keep in mind some precautions. Pay attention to heels that are too high, remember that for those suffering from hallux valgus the recommended shoes are those a round tip It’s wideIt may be helpful to use an orthotic to reduce the symptoms of central metatarsalgia, a consequence of hallux valgus, which leads to pain under the sole of the foot when walking. And finally, keep in mind that there are toe separators that in some cases tend to reduce the possibility of the big toe crossing over the other toes.
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“Daily Health Pills” is the podcast series by DiLei TakeCare, curated by Federico Mereta. In each episode we talk about prevention, care and good habits.
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