Are you likely to fall over more often if you have bunions?

Do bunions affect your balance and postural stability? Can you fall over more often if you have bunions?

Yes, you can. Bunions have been shown in this research to increase postural sway. The researchers measured how much standing sway that 169 participants had. Those with hallux valgus (bunions) had more sway. This means that they are less stable and if they face something in the environment that might results in a fall, those with bunions are probably more likely to fall over than those who do not have one.

The risk factors for falls are multiple and bunions are probably just one of many, but this research does give another reason to do something about the bunion.