While there are many treatment options available on the market to help stop the pain associated with rubbing and pressure caused by wearing shoes--bunion pads, guards, and protectors come in disposable and reusable options and provide a cushion between the bunion and the shoe--only a few of these options actually help with the misalignment of the big toe. That’s where a bunion splint comes in. Bunion splints work by applying gentle pressure to the big toe to slowly correct the misalignment.