Are Bunions Hereditary?

According to a new study published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research, many common foot deformities, like bunions, hammertoes, and claw toes are inherited, especially in those who are of European descent.
"These new findings highlight the importance of furthering our understanding of what causes greater susceptibility to these foot conditions, as knowing more about the pathway may ultimately lead to early prevention or early treatment," said study researcher Dr. Marian Hannan, of Harvard Medical School and Hebrew SeniorLife, who is the editor in chief of the journal in a statement.
Recent studies show that more than one third of older adults have bunions. In this study, researchers looked at bunions, lesser toe deformities, and plantar soft tissue atrophy in 1,370 study participants, with an average age of 66, who were part of the Framingham Foot Study. Researchers found that 31 percent of the participants had bunions, 30 percent had lesser toe deformities, and 28 percent had plantar soft tissue atrophy.
They found that bunions and toe deformities were heritable, but plantar soft tissue atrophy was not.
A previous study by the Arthritis Care and Research showed that bunions were more common as people aged and that women were more likely than men to have bunions.
Australian researcher Neil J. Cronin recently published a study on how high heels alter the biomechanics of the foot, says that high-heel wears should avoid towering heels when selecting shoes.
Wear heels "once or twice a week," Cronin told the New York Times, "or try to remove the heels whenever possible, such as when you're sitting at your desk."
Reference: Huffington Post and New York Daily News
If you have a foot deformity, call our Glastonbury or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Ayman M. Latif, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Foot Deformity Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Glastonbury and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow my tweets on Twitter.