Long Island, NY offers a plethora of shopping options for residents and visitors alike. Whether you want to spend time at any of the 270 stores at the Roosevelt Field Mall or would rather check out the international boutiques at Americana Manhasset, you certainly have many possibilities.
Of course, you may end up selecting one or the other based simply on its location. Location certainly plays a key role in the business world, but it has its place (pun fully intended) in the medical world as well. This is the case when we look at bunions and bunionettes.
Based on the name “bunionette,” we wouldn’t blame you for thinking that this is simply a smaller form of a bunion. It is true that they usually differ in size, but that’s not what really distinguishes the two toe deformities.
In each case, a toe bone drifts so it begins angling in towards the other four toes. At the same time, the joint at the base of the toe pushes outward and sticks out along the edge of the foot. The key difference is that a bunion develops at the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) of the big toe and a bunionette forms at the MTPJ for the small toe.
Bunions can be a problem for individuals with flat feet who overpronate (roll toward the inside of the foot when walking); in the same manner, bunionettes have a correlation with high arches and supination (roll toward the outside of the foot). These pronation abnormalities create extra pressure in the joints where these issues develop.
Now that you understand the difference between bunions and bunionettes, it’s time to know where to go for treatment for these common toe deformities. Fortunately, there’s an easy answer – Foot Specialists of Long Island! Our Nassau County podiatry practice will help you find the relief you need and take measures to prevent the condition from worsening. Contact us by using our online form or simply give us a call at (516) 804-9038 and schedule your appointment with our Long Island office today!
