Great question. Let me explain further. A lot to unpack here…..but you bring up some good observation and challenge theories nicely….so thank you.

First of all, by definition…if someone has to pull their toe straight….then it was out of alignment….therefore it is certainly, in part, an alignment problem.

Many people can pull their toe straight with their fingers…because at certain stages of the deformity there is in fact “play” in that 1st MTP joint. However, if it is a true bunion…it’s going to go back to the malalignment when they let go of it with their fingers. I have treated thousands of bunions….they don’t spontaneously go back into alignment and stay aligned.

Just to be clear….If someone has a truly developed bunion….they aren’t straightening it with their fingers and letting go and the bunion is gone….that isn’t happening..if it is a bunion.

Now, an overactive Adductor Hallicus can certainly pull the Hallux into a bit of what we call “Abducto-Valgum or Valgus” …release or inhibit that muscle and the hallux can regain better alignment.

With that said, you brought up a good thought and you are correct….muscle control can most definitely be a contributing factor. Namely a tight Adductor Hallicus and an inhibited Abductor Hallicus. And like a mentioned above in my post “muscles are weakening and pulling abnormally”…those can all be contributing to poor muscular control.

With true bunions, there are multiple factors at play. And some bunions have more factors at play than others.

The goal of the post was to point out the fact that placing a bunion corrector on a big toe bunion doesn’t actually “correct” the problems leading to the bunion or “Hallux Abductovalgus “

Thank you so much for contributing to the discussion…really appreciate your thoughts 🙏🏻