When Jeff arrived at our clinic, he had been struggling with a bunion for several years. Recently, it started to cause him a lot of pain, especially when wearing riding boots. This was especially worrying for him as he’d been involved with the local hunt on Exmoor for many decades and was fearful he’d have to stop this activity due to the pain in his foot.

We successfully treated Jeff’s bunion using shockwave therapy, helping him reclaim his freedom to enjoy his hobbies once more.

What is a bunion?

A bunion is caused by a tendency of the big toe to point towards the smaller toes, causing a lump to protrude at the joint below the toe — the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The MTP joint is where the base of your big toe meets your foot. The medical term for bunions is hallux valgus.

This misalignment can be caused by genetics, improper footwear, arthritis, or foot structure abnormalities.

If you have a bunion, you may have hard or swollen skin. The bunion may look red or darker than the skin around it.

In Jeff’s case, it was at an early stage, but with signs of osteoarthritis, and it was clearly on track to get worse.

Shockwave for bunion treatment

Having spent time assessing Jeff’s bunion, I was 75% confident that we could get some improvement using shockwave. I explained how this treatment would work, and Jeff was happy to go ahead on the basis that even a marginal improvement would allow him to continue to enjoy his passion.

Shockwave therapy, or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), is a treatment which uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissue. High-energy sound waves are directed at the affected area, which promotes circulation, eases inflammation, and stimulates tissue regeneration.

In Jeff’s case, it took four treatments before we saw some change, but after just six treatments, the toe joint was feeling over 50% better.

We continued for an extra 3 sessions, by which time there was an 80% improvement, and Jeff was hardly noticing his bunion, even when wearing the offending riding boots.

He was absolutely delighted with the outcome. The huge improvement in his bunion brought back his confidence that he could continue to enjoy not just his hobby, but all the other outdoor pursuits that he values so much. Feeling happy and confident again was great for him, and for me it was a wonderful thing to see the delighted look on his face as he described how much it meant to him.

6 benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Bunions

• Pain Relief: Shockwave therapy helps ease pain through desensitising nerve endings and boosting blood flow to the area, reducing inflammation and pressure on the joint.
• Promotes Healing: Shockwave therapy supports collagen production and tissue regeneration, which are essential for healing the damaged soft tissue around the bunion.
• Boosts Mobility: By reducing inflammation and pain, shockwave therapy can restore the foot’s movement, helping patients walk more comfortably.
• Non-Invasive: Unlike surgical options, shockwave therapy does not require incisions or a lengthy recovery period.
• Stimulates Circulation: Improved blood flow helps deliver nutrients to the affected area, speeding up the healing process.
• Long-Term Results: Regular sessions of shockwave therapy can provide long-lasting relief by addressing the root cause of the bunion.

Book your appointment now

It couldn’t be easier to book your appointment with Osteo & Physio! Book a session via our app, website or call our friendly reception team on 0345 5577788.