What is "turf toe" and how should it be treated?
How is Turf Toe Caused? Sesamoids: Two small bones that help the front of your foot absorb the weight. Flexor Hallucis Brevis: A tendon that helps the big toe when running or jumping with your weight on it. Collateral Ligaments: Tissue bands that …
What is the best way to treat a turf toe?
Most cases of turf toe are treated without surgery. Nonsurgical treatment is determined by the grade of the injury. Grade 1. The RICE protocol is recommended for this type of injury: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Taping the big toe to the smaller toes will restrict motion.
How to minimize turf toe recovery time?
Mobilization, taping and “rolling out” the foot are key to fixing turf toe problems. Mobilization promotes circulation and allows the joint to heal. Taping protects and stabilizes the joint. Rolling out reduces tension in the entire foot and helps prevents future injuries. Go ahead, give it a try, experience the results for yourself.
How can I treat a turf toe injury?
Oct 14, 2021 · Treatment The immediate treatment of turf toe is to control the swelling and inflammation of the affected toe joint. Using RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) along with anti-inflammatory medications is usually helpful. The athlete must also rest the sore toe to allow the joint to heal.
What is the fastest way to cure turf toe?
How is turf toe treated?Rest from the activity that caused the injury.Use cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.Use an elastic compression band to help prevent additional swelling.Elevate your leg to limit swelling.Take over-the-counter pain medicine (not exceeding the recommended dose)
How long does it take for turf toe to fully heal?
Seek immediate treatment if you have severe pain in the toe joint that is likely turf toe. Early intervention is a key component of a successful recovery. It can take as long as six months for turf toe to heal completely.
Does turf toe ever heal?
Turf toe injuries normally heal properly if managed early, but it could take six months to a year to fully recover to pre-injury level.
When should I see a doctor for turf toe?
When to see a doctor While turf toe injuries can be mild, a person should make an appointment with their doctor if they find it too painful to walk on the affected foot or if other physical activities, such as running and playing sports, become difficult.
Is turf toe serious?
While sometimes mild, which injured athletes can play through, turf toe is sometimes a more serious health condition and can be career-ending. The amount of damage to the ligaments, tendons, bones, and surrounding tissues determines the severity of the injury.
Can turf toe get worse?
The most common symptoms of turf toe include pain, swelling, and limited joint movement at the base of one big toe. The symptoms develop slowly and gradually get worse over time if it's caused by repetitive injury.Jan 27, 2022
Why is turf toe so painful?
It happens when you bend your big toe too far or too forcefully. This motion causes soft tissues and ligaments in the big toe joint to stretch or tear (sprain). Ligaments are tissues that connect your bones.Feb 1, 2021
Does turf toe need surgery?
It may take several weeks for your big toe joint to heal, and it is important to gently ease back into physical activities. Our specialists can advise you on footwear choices and physical therapy exercises to prevent re-injury during healing. Surgery. Most turf toe injuries can be successfully treated without surgery.
Does Epsom salt help turf toe?
The Healing Benefits of Epsom Salt Foot Soaks You can even use Epsom salt baths to relieve a number of foot complaints and conditions, including: Athlete's Foot: While Epsom salts don't kill the fungus that causes athlete's foot, it can help draw the moisture out.
Why do I keep getting turf toe?
You can get this type of injury doing any activity that involves putting a lot of weight on your big toe. Professional athletes are most prone to turf toe because they're constantly running, jumping, and generally putting weight on their feet for long periods.
How is turf toe diagnosed?
To diagnose turf toe, your doctor will do an exam to find out the extent of the injury. He or she will look for symptoms and test your range of motion. Your injury could be a slight stretching, hyperextension, or tear of the tendon. You may need an x-ray or MRI if your injury looks to be more severe.
How to treat turf toe injury?
Acute turf toe injuries are ordinarily managed with a few weeks of immobilization: using a walking boot or crutches, at least initially. Physical therapy. Early movement is important to avert or limit stiffness; it is also advised to initiate physical therapy early to stretch and support the big toe. Rest.
Why is it important to treat turf toe injuries early?
It is important to address turf toe injuries early. Early treatment facilitates healing and a reduction in symptoms. An ignored turf toe injury may result in a challenging repair and the likelihood of excessive swelling and extended inflexibility. Importantly, athletes may or may not be able to return to athletic competition in these situations. 1.
How long does it take for a turf toe to heal?
Mild movements can begin after 3 to 5 days of rest. Exercises such as cycling are also permissible with proper toe support. People with grade 1 turf toe are advised not to underestimate their injury. Rest is an important aspect of treatment, and athletic activity can worsen the sprain and its symptoms. Grade 2.
How long after surgery can you wear a splint?
Minimal exercises to reduce stiffness may start five to seven days after surgery. A person may be advised to wear a toe spica splint for four weeks: keeping the operated toe flexed downward and immobilized; it is recommended not to apply weight to the operated foot.
What causes a toe to bend?
Turf toe is caused by bending the big toe too far back toward your foot. When this happens, the big toe area and the MTP joint, known as the plantar complex, can get injured. Areas that may be affected with turf toe include: 1 sesamoids: two small bones that help absorb weight on the front of your foot 2 flexor hallucis brevis: a tendon that helps the big toe when you put your weight on it when running or jumping 3 collateral ligaments: bands of tissue that connect your toe bones and keep the big toe from bending too much to either side of your foot 4 plantar plate: a structure that keeps your big toe from being bent too far up
Why do football players get turf toes?
Ballet dancers, basketball players, and wrestlers can also get turf toe because they’re constantly using their feet on hard surfaces. This injury is a type of metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint sprain.
What to do if your toe is broken?
Sutures are stitches for body tissue. If a bone is broken, your doctor will need to repair the bone. You may need to wear a cast to protect the toe until it fully heals.
How do you know if you have a turf toe?
What are the symptoms of turf toe? The most noticeable symptom of turf toe is pain around the big toe area, including the joint that goes up your foot toward your ankle. You might feel the pain right away if your toe bends suddenly and quickly.
Why do sports shoes have metal plates?
Wear stiff shoes when you’re playing sports to keep your toe from bending too far. A metal plate on the sole of your shoe can help keep the shoe from bending at all.
How to treat a grade 1 sprain?
Ice: Apply a cold pack or ice in a plastic bag to the area to keep the swelling and inflammation down .
How to keep big toe from moving?
Ice: Apply a cold pack or ice in a plastic bag to the area to keep the swelling and inflammation down. Compression: Wrap a bandage around the foot and toes. Keeping the big toe taped to your other toes can keep it from moving too much and making the injury worse.
How to treat a turf toe?
The basic treatment for treating turf toe, initially, is a combination of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (remember the acronym R.I.C.E). This basic treatment approach is to give the injury ample time to heal, which means the foot will need to be rested and the joint protected from further injury.
What is a turf toe?
“Turf toe” is the common term used to describe a sprain of the ligaments around the big toe joint. Although it’s commonly associated with football players who play on artificial turf, it affects athletes in other sports including soccer, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and dance. It’s a condition that’s caused by jamming the big toe or repeatedly pushing off the big toe forcefully as in running and jumping.
What is a turf toe?
Turf toe is an injury to the big toe. The bottom of the large knuckle of the big toe is stretched, causing swelling, bruising, and pain in your big toe. It is a fairly common sports injury, particularly among athletes who play on artificial turf, such as football players. The metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint is the largest joint in ...
What to ask when evaluating for turf toe?
When evaluating for turf toe, your foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon will ask how the injury took place. If the symptoms developed gradually, your surgeon will ask for specifics on when they began and any activity that makes them worse.
How long does it take to recover from a toe injury?
After the boot is removed, your surgeon may recommend physical therapy in order to regain range of motion and strength in the injured toe. Return to sports and dress shoes can take 2-3 months.
What is the plantar plate complex?
All these structures together form the "plantar plate complex," which keep the toe stable when pushing off, such as when walking or running. Turf toe injuries involve damage to one or more parts of the plantar plate complex. Treatment depends on the severity of the injury.
What is a grade 1 turf toe injury?
Turf toe injuries are graded by their severity: Grade 1 injury: The plantar plate complex is stretched, resulting in tenderness and some swelling but no bruising. Grade 2 injury: Partial tearing of the plantar plate complex occurs, resulting in increased tenderness, swelling, and bruising on the bottom of the foot.
Why do surgeons take X-rays?
X-rays may be taken to rule out broken bones or other injuries. Sometimes your surgeon will also request an MRI to get a better look at the plantar plate complex. A diagnosis will be made based on the results of these tests and the physical examination.
What is a sprain in the big toe?
A sprain of the main joint of your big toe is a "turf toe." This is the joint of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP joint). The support structures known as your plantar complex are weakened by trauma. It happens when, as when pushing off into a run, the toe bends painfully upwards.
Can you walk with a turf toe injury?
Turf toe wounds can affect your ability to walk, run, and play sports without diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention leads to most turf toe injuries being treated successfully. Athletes can recover from their turf toes and return to the health and fitness level before the injury.
What is turf toe?
The simplest definition of turf toe is that it is a sprain of the main joint of the big toe. It happens when the toe is forcibly bent up into hyperextension, such as when pushing off into a sprint and having the toe get stuck flat on the ground.
What is the best treatment for a toe injury?
Nonsurgical treatment is determined by the grade of the injury. Grade 1. The RICE protocol is recommended for this type of injury: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Taping the big toe to the smaller toes will restrict motion. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications may relieve pain and swelling.
What is the largest joint in the big toe?
The big toe is made up of two joints. The largest of the two is the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), where the first long bone of the foot (metatarsal) meets the first bone of the toe (phalanx). In turf toe, the MTP joint is injured.
What causes a big toe to be hyperextended?
Turf toe can occur in any sport or activity when the forefoot is fixed on the ground, the heel is raised, and a force pushes the big toe into hyperextension.
What is the MTP joint?
The MTP joint is the large joint closest to the base of the big toe. Several structures work together to protect and stabilize the MTP joint. The MTP joint is surrounded by important structures that hold it in place and prevent it from dislocating. Together these structures are referred to as the "plantar complex.".
How to reduce swelling in leg?
To reduce swelling, recline when you rest, and put your leg up higher than your heart. In addition, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can help provide symptom relief. Depending upon the severity of your injury, seek a doctor's care immediately or if your symptoms persist.
How long does it take to recover from a grade 2 injury?
In most cases, an athlete with a Grade 2 injury needs 3 to 14 days of rest before returning to play. Grade 3. These more severe injuries are most often treated with immobilization for several weeks. The athlete may wear a walking boot or be put in a cast that keeps the big toe in a partially pointed down position.
Why is so much playing time lost in the NFL?
“…As much playing time is now lost in the NFL because of turf toe as ankle sprains, and it has become the most common injury reported by some 600 college players…”
How to fix turf toe?
Just like you, they too, can be on the road to recovery using the three steps outlined above. Mobilization, taping and “rolling out” the foot are key to fixing turf toe problems. Mobilization promotes circulation and allows the joint to heal. Taping protects and stabilizes the joint.
What is a turf toe?
Turf toe describes an injury to the joint at the base of the big toe when an athlete forcefully jams his toe into the ground or bends his toe backward, beyond its normal limits. The injury often occurs on a grass or artificial turf playing field which is why the name "turf toe" was adopted. Verywell / Gary Ferster.
How to treat turf toe?
The immediate treatment of turf toe is to control the swelling and inflammation of the affected toe joint. Using RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) along with anti-inflammatory medications is usually helpful. The athlete must also rest the sore toe to allow the joint to heal.
Who is Elizabeth Quinn?
Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Jason DelCollo, DO, is board-certified in family medicine and on the faculty of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Turf toe is a painful injury to the base of the big toe ...
Can a turf toe hurt?
Not only does turf toe result in a great deal of immediate pain, but over time the joint may become stiff, less flexible, and more prone to arthritis . This limited mobility in the joint can increase the likelihood of the big toe being injured again in the future. 1 .
How long does it take for a turf toe to heal?
It can take a long time for turf toe to heal completely, and athletes should expect to take a break from field sports for at least three weeks while the joint capsule heals. Athletes who return too soon or play through pain are often sidelined even longer in the future. 2
Is turf toe a soft tissue injury?
Diagnosis. Turf toe is considered a soft tissue injury and the diagnosis is fairly straight-forward. A physician will typically diagnose turf toe based on an athlete's symptoms, sports history, and a physical examination of the injured toe joint. In some cases, X-rays may be taken to rule out a toe fracture, arthritis or other trauma to the bones.
Can a football player have arthritis in his big toe?
Arthritis of the big toe is quite common in those who suffer repeated turf injuries or trauma to the big toe joint. 5 In fact, most professional football players will have some degree of arthritis and limited flexibility in their toes by the time they retire.
What is the best treatment for a turf toe injury?
Ice will help to manage the discomfort and reduce swelling, while compression will aid in stopping bleeding under the skin surface and prevent fluid accumulation in the joint and surrounding areas. Acute management of turf toe injuries includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
What is a turf toe?
Turf toe is an injury to the underside of the big toe and joint at the base of the big toe. This joint, the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, is commonly known as the "ball of the foot.". Turf toe is specifically a hyperextension of the big toe. This joint sprain of the big toe may involve damage to ligaments, tendons, ...
Is turf toe a serious injury?
While sometimes mild, which injured athletes can play through, turf toe is sometimes a more serious health condition and can be career-ending. The amount of damage to the ligaments, tendons, bones, and surrounding tissues determines the severity of the injury.
What is a big toe sprain?
This joint sprain of the big toe may involve damage to ligaments, tendons, or bone separately or in combination. The sprain, often is a result of playing on artificial turf, was first documented in American football players in 1976. Turf toe was recognized as a common injury soon after the invention of AstroTurf in 1964.
What is the impact of running on the body?
Running causes the body to have a repetitive impact on the ground. The use of bicycling, elliptical trainers, step machines, swimming, or ski machines minimize impact and allow the individual to maintain and improve his or her fitness without causing irritation to the injury. Biomechanical evaluation.
How does physical activity reduce the risk of disease?
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs that fit any age or lifestyle.
Why does my foot hurt?
Foot pain may be caused by injuries (sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures), diseases (diabetes, Hansen disease, and gout), viruses, fungi, and bacteria (plantar warts and athlete's foot), or even ingrown toenails. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function. Minor foot pain can usually be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation and OTC medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Severe pain should be treated by a medical professional.
Symptoms
Causes
- Turf toe surgery is rare, since it is usually treated with nonsurgical methods. Turf toe surgery is recommended for: 1. Significant grade 3 injuries, including a major plantar complex tear or a sesamoid fracture, one of two small bones found below the MTP joint. 2. Continuation of symptomssuch as discomfort or difficulty with push-off activities, a...
Diagnosis
Treatments
- Turf toe is not a term you want to use when talking to a head football coach about his star running back or the ballerina before her diva debut. Turf toe is the common term used to describe a sprain of the ligaments around the big toe joint. Although its commonly associated with football players who play on artificial turf, it affects athletes in o...
Recovery
Risks and Complications
When Should I See A Doctor About Turf toe?