The Body Mechanic · Brighton · Foot Pain
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.
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Does this sound familiar?
Understanding the problem
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 — which forms for similar reasons and can become just as painful. Both can be worked with using the same approach.
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.
The approach
Using Gary Ward's AIM method — Anatomy in Motion — we work to restore what's missing in the movement system. For bunions that means restoring movement through the big toe joint and getting the foot functioning as it was designed to.
Introducing exercises to build strength through the inside of the foot and introducing tools like toe spacers to help the toes function more naturally. Toe spacers help create space between the toes, allow the forefoot to spread more naturally, and reduce the compression that contributes to bunion discomfort.
If movement through the big toe joint is restricted, we can also look at footwear that helps restore that movement. A wide toe box is essential — giving the forefoot the room it needs to function naturally makes an immediate difference.
What to expect
Sessions are hands-on and practical. We'll look at how you move, how you load, and where the restrictions are. You'll leave with a specific exercise programme, fully videoed, that takes around 20 minutes a day to complete at home. No gym required.
"A whole-body movement assessment before committing to surgery is always worth doing. The loading pattern that created the problem may still be there afterwards."
Book Your Missing Piece Assessment Based in Brighton · In-person sessionsIs this right for you?
If you've already 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.
Common questions