Shoes versus barefoot: evolutionary tradeoffs

Hallux valgus (bunions) are more common in women than men and high heeled shoes are often blamed. But how much of the problem is environment and how much genetics?

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Editor: Robyn Flynn

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Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

1. Bunions in unshod populations: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13587573/

2. Prevalence of bunions in the general population: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20868524/

3. The 2004 Cochrane review on conservative therapies to treat bunions: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20868524/

4. More recent data on conservatie therapies to treat bunions: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34408037/

5. The 2024 Cochrane review on surgery to treat bunions: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013726.pub2/full