Help With Bunions, Brighton
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Have you been told that your bunions are hereditary? The answer is — perhaps. Genetics can play a role. But for many people, the real driver is something that can actually be addressed: poor foot mechanics and the way load is distributed through the foot.
What’s Actually Going On
A bunion develops when the forefoot takes more load than it should. When the foot isn’t moving well, the forefoot ends up absorbing forces that should be distributed across the whole foot and body. Over time, that excess load starts to change the bony structure of the foot. The big toe joint shifts, the deviation becomes visible, and the joint starts to feel stiff and uncomfortable.
Footwear plays a part too. Shoes with a narrow toe box squeeze the forefoot, restrict natural movement, and push the toes into positions they were never designed to hold. It’s also worth knowing that on the opposite side of the foot, around the outside of the little toe, you may develop what’s known as a tailor’s bunion. This forms for similar reasons and can become just as painful. Both can be worked with using the same approach.
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How I Approach It
I work with Gary Ward’s AIM method — Anatomy in Motion — restoring what’s missing in the movement system. For bunions that means restoring movement through the big toe joint, building strength through the inside of the foot, and introducing tools like toe spacers to help the toes function more naturally. If movement through the big toe joint is restricted, we can also look at footwear that helps restore that movement — finding a shoe that works with your foot to give back what’s missing.
It’s worth noting that aesthetically the toe may not look different — but your foot function will improve, and that’s what reduces the pain and allows you to move more freely.
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A Note on Surgery
Surgery is sometimes presented as the straightforward solution to a bunion — but it isn’t always the easy answer. If the underlying movement pattern that caused the bunion hasn’t been addressed, surgery can create new problems. People often find that after bunion surgery they start experiencing pain elsewhere — in the knee, the hip, or the lower back — as the body compensates for a joint that can no longer move freely. A whole-body movement assessment before committing to surgery is always worth doing.
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What a Session Looks Like
Sessions are hands-on and practical. You’ll leave with a specific exercise programme, fully videoed, taking around 20 minutes a day at home. No gym required.
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Who Is This For?
If you’ve tried everything and it keeps coming back, you’re in the right place. This approach works for everyone — whether you’re on your feet all day, want to get back to exercise, or simply want to walk the dog without it hurting.
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Based in Brighton
I work with clients in Brighton and the surrounding area. A Missing Piece Assessment is the place to start.
Book your Missing Piece Assessment today and find out what your foot has been trying to tell you.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Can a bunion actually be improved without surgery?
Surgery is often presented as the only real solution for a bunion — but it isn’t always the right first step. The goal of the work I do isn’t to reverse the bony change overnight. It’s to improve how the foot moves, reduce the load on the joint, ease the stiffness and discomfort, and where possible slow or halt the progression. Many people find that with better movement, the right strength work, and appropriate footwear, their symptoms improve significantly. It’s always worth exploring a conservative approach before committing to surgery.
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I’ve been told my bunion is hereditary — does that mean nothing can be done?
Genetics can play a role, but hereditary doesn’t mean inevitable or untreatable. What we can address is the loading mechanics that are driving the progression. I trained with Gait Happens and work with Gary Ward’s AIM method, both focused on restoring what the movement system is missing. Even if you have a genetic predisposition, improving how your foot loads and moves can make a real difference.
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Why does my bunion affect my knee and back as well?
Because the body is one connected system. When the big toe joint is stiff or restricted, the body finds another way to move — and that compensation travels upward. The knee has to track differently. The hip works harder. The back picks up load it shouldn’t be carrying. Once movement was restored through the big toe joint in one of my clients, her knee pain settled, her Achilles pain resolved, and her squat improved. None of those things were treated directly — they changed because the foot started to move the way it was supposed to.
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What are toe spacers and do they actually help?
Toe spacers help create space between the toes, allow the forefoot to spread more naturally, and reduce the compression that contributes to bunion discomfort. They won’t fix a bunion on their own, but as part of a wider programme of movement restoration and strength work, they can be a useful addition. I’ll advise you on whether they’re appropriate for you.
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What should I expect if I’ve already had bunion surgery?
If you’ve had surgery and the symptoms have returned, or you’re experiencing new discomfort in your knee, hip, or back since the operation, it’s likely that the underlying movement pattern hasn’t been fully addressed. A whole-body movement assessment can be really valuable post-surgery — finding what the system is still missing and putting it back.