Q My mother had hallux valgus, and now I have it too. Is it hereditary?
A Hallux valgus is a condition with a distinct family history, where ligament laxity and foot structure are inherited. If parents have the same deformity, their children's probability of developing it is 2 to 3 times higher. Even with a genetic predisposition, progression can be significantly slowed down through proper shoe selection and strengthening foot muscles.
Detailed Answer
The heritability of hallux valgus is reported to be as high as 60–70% depending on the study. Ligament laxity, the shape of the first metatarsal, and Achilles tendon tension are inherited, and the deformity progresses rapidly when environmental factors such as footwear, occupation, and weight gain are added on top of these structural predispositions.
Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic
In Korean medicine, congenital constitutional predisposition is linked to the fullness of kidney energy. Since the functions of the kidneys governing bones and the liver governing tendons fundamentally depend on innate kidney energy, it is believed that weakness in digestive and kidney energy in cases of family history leads to a decline in musculoskeletal support. At Dongjedang, we provide treatment that minimizes genetic vulnerability by nourishing digestion and the kidneys with herbal medicine tailored to the individual's constitution, and restoring the function of intrinsic foot muscles through the combined use of thread embedding and needle acupuncture.
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