Turf Toe Can Be a Real Pain for Athletes
Athletes are at increased risk for a wide range of issues related to the health of your feet, ankles, and lower legs. Among them is turf toe, a sprain of the big toe joint. Read on to learn more about the causes and symptoms of turf toe, as well as what your podiatrist can do to help.
What Is Turf Toe?
Consider the mechanics of walking or running: with each step, you raise your heel and your body weight is shifted to the ball of your foot. Finally, you push off your big toe to move forward. If that toe fails to push off, the area around the joint can become hyperextended. Repeated over time or with enough sudden force, that hyperextension can cause a sprain, and turf toe is the result.
Causes of Turf Toe
Turf toe typically results from an excessive upward bending (hyperextension) of the joint. The injury has come to be called “turf toe” after podiatrists began noticing it occurring among athletes – such as football and soccer players – who play on artificial turf. The texture of these man-made surfaces makes it more likely that the foot will not move quite as expected, resulting in jamming of the big toe joint. Foot doctors also believe that less-supportive, excessively flexible footwear plays a role.
Who Is at Risk of Turf Toe?
Turf toe is most commonly reported in football players, but athletes who enjoy soccer, wrestling, gymnastics, dance, and court sports such as basketball and tennis are also at risk.
Symptoms of Turf Toe
If you have hyperextended your big toe joint, or if you are in a high-risk group, be alert to symptoms of turf toe. Signs of injury can include pain, swelling, and a limited range of movement in the big toe joint. If you have jammed your toe, you may notice these signs worsening over the 24 hours immediately following the injury.
Treating Turf Toe
After proper diagnosis, your podiatrist will have a range of non-surgical options to treat your turf toe including:
- Over-the-counter and prescription medications for pain and swelling
- rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
- physical therapy to correct gait issues that increase the risk of turf toe
- a recommendation for some new footwear, perhaps with custom orthotics to provide cushioning and support
If you are worried that you have injured your toe, it’s time to visit your podiatrist. Call Advanced Feet and Ankle Care at (732) 679-4330 or click here to schedule a convenient appointment with Jason Grossman, DPM in our comfortable offices in Old Bridge or Sayreville.