Ep 204. Can Physical Therapy Actually Change a Bunion? with Andrew Wynd

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💡 Are bunions strictly a surgical problem, or can physical therapy make a measurable difference? In this episode of PT Pro Talk, Mariana sits down with sports physiotherapist Andrew Wynd to challenge the common belief that conservative care can't change a hallux valgus (HAV) angle.

Drawing from over 15 years of clinical experience specializing in foot and ankle issues, Andrew breaks down a comprehensive, non-surgical approach to treating bunions. By addressing the biomechanical roots of the issue (from hip rotation to big toe muscle activation) therapists can empower their patients with real alternatives to surgery.

💭 “I do believe that you can change the angles. And I'm well aware that the vast majority of higher-quality research suggests otherwise." - Andrew Wynd

👉🏻 Andrew Wynd is an APA-Titled Sports Physiotherapist and is the founder and director of Balwyn Sports & Physiotherapy Centre in Melbourne. He also is the CEO of Freestyle Feet, an innovative company that aims to solve foot/ankle issues through education and products.

Andrew is globally recognised for his foot & ankle clinical work, holding a Post Graduate Master’s Degree in Sports Physiotherapy. Andrew has been a casual academic teacher at La Trobe University and is passionate about ongoing clinician development and mentoring.

📚In this episode, you'll learn:

What the current evidence tells us about non-surgical treatment for hallux valgus
A practical approach to conservative management that combines manual therapy, exercise, and orthotic interventions
How to identify which patients are good candidates for physical therapy versus surgical referral
Realistic treatment timelines and outcomes you can expect with conservative care

🔎Andrew's Resource of Information:

Freestylefeet Youtube
Freestyle Feet Website
Banished Bunion Course
Abdalbary, S. A. (2018). Foot mobilization and exercise program in combination with toe separator improves outcomes in women with moderate hallux valgus at the one-year follow-up: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 108(6), 478-486. https://doi.org/10.7547/17-026
Hurn SE, et. al (2022). Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Interventions for Hallux Valgus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 Oct;74(10):1676-1688. doi: 10.1002/acr.24603
Ferreyra, M, et. al. (2020). What do we know about hallux valgus pathogenesis? Review of the different theories. Journal of the Foot & Ankle, 14(3):223-230. https://doi.org/