Pros & Cons of Bunion Surgery for Runners

For runners, few things are more frustrating than having an injury derail their training. Unfortunately, for those dealing with a bunion—a separation of the big toe joint that causes a bony protrusion along the inner ball of the foot—avoiding injury is often easier said than done.

Bunions can be painful on their own, but this foot deformity is also known to contribute to other running-related injuries—bunions alter how the foot strikes, causing a kinetic chain reaction that can stress bone, muscle and joints throughout the legs, hip and lower back.

Left untreated, a bunion can alter your mechanics, leading to a myriad of running-related injuries, from tendonitis to stress fractures. Surgery can permanently correct a bunion, helping you avoid these injuries.