From Sidelines to Center Court: Defeating Bunions for Pickleball Players

As foot and ankle specialists, we treat a wide variety of problems, including flat feet, heel pain, nerve issues, hammertoes and one of the most common and painful foot conditions – bunions.

Bunions are a progressive and painful deformity that affect almost 25% of Americans¹. They form a bump on the side of the big toe that can worsen over time². Many active patients, especially athletes like pickleball players, are often forced to limit or stop physical activities because of their bunion symptoms³.

One surgical option, Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®, corrects the root cause of the bunion⁴. This means that pickleball players, who often must limit or stop physical activities due to bunion symptoms, can now get back in the game. Many patients who have undergone the procedure can typically bear weight on their feet within days after surgery and most are able to return to their usual physical activities at about four months post-op. The procedure has demonstrated a bunion recurrence risk of about 1-3% in 13- and 17-month studies, respectively^{5, 6, 7}. Since it was cleared by the FDA in 2016, more than 100,000 patients have been successfully treated and cleared to return to the activities they enjoy⁸.

From November 4-10, the Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® Pickleball World Championships in Farmers Branch hosted the world’s top professional players. The event provided a valuable platform to dispel the stigma surrounding bunions, raise awareness about the impact of the condition, and share information about treatment options like the Lapiplasty® Procedure. We were thrilled to engage with the pickleball community and support players in returning to the game.

Witnessing the transformative impact that the Lapiplasty® Procedure has had on our patients has been rewarding. Whether it’s the joy of returning to the pickleball court or the satisfaction of completing household chores without discomfort, patients suffering from bunions yearn for relief. The Lapiplasty® Procedure offers a pathway for patients to reclaim the lifestyles they enjoy, and we are both thrilled to continue providing patients with this innovative approach to a bunion-free life.

For more information about the Lapiplasty® Procedure visit Lapiplasty.com. To schedule an appointment with Paul Steinke, M.D., call 817-416-6155 or visit FAANT.com. To schedule an appointment with Donald Stewart, M.D., call 817-375-5200 or visit ArlingtonOrtho.com.

¹ Nix S, et al. J Foot Ankle Res. 2010. 27:3:21.

² American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2024.

³ American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2024.

⁴ Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019. 58:427-433.

⁵ Based on surgeon experience in their practice.

⁶ Ray J, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Aug;40(8):955-960.

⁷ Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019. 58:427-433.

⁸ TMC Data on File.