What is turf toe? I have to admit, when I first heard of this term, it tickled my funny bone, which, now that I think of it, would be another cool orthopedic topic! Visions of funny-looking toes entered my mind, especially knowing that my 105-year-old grandma has someone drive her 30 miles every other Saturday to some salon in the nearby “big city” to get her toe nails trimmed. That’s actually a scary thought in my book! One hundred and five year old toes could present with horrifying conditions still yet to be named! Thank goodness she at least gets the toe nails polished! With swimsuit season right around the corner, that is a must!
So, in reference to my initial question, I took to the task of doing some research to understand what this condition is. Turf toe causes pain at the base of the big toe. This condition is usually brought on from either stubbing the toe or repeatedly pushing off of it through such activities as running or jumping. While pain is the chief complaint, it can also be accompanied by stiffness and swelling.
This condition got its name because it commonly affects athletes who play on artificial turf. When you combine the hard surface of the turf with the running and jumping associated with sports such as soccer and football, turf toe can be a result of these activities. It has been argued that turf toe can afflict athletes who wear flexible shoes with less support to the joints at the front of the foot.
When someone has been diagnosed with turf toe, what has actually happened is that the capsule surrounding the joint at the base of the toe has been torn. The resulting issue is extreme pain at the site. Additionally, when this capsule is torn, the foot can become unstable and the joint at the base of the toe can become dislocated. This can potentially lead to arthritis of the big toe. While making a diagnosis of turf toe is fairly easy, the attending physician may order x-rays to be sure that there is no related fracture or evidence of arthritis.
When treating turf toe, the main focus is in controlling the inflammation of the joint capsule. Resting the toe certainly allows for the inflammation to diminish and gives the capsule time to heal. Wrapped ice packs to the toe, as well as elevating the foot, can help. Certain anti-inflammatory medications may be helpful, too. Be sure to talk with your doctor about any of these treatment methods.
If an athlete is diagnosed with turf toe, it is best to refrain from engaging in his or her sport for at least three weeks. Failure to do so could lead to further injury to the toe and a longer recuperation period. Playing through the injury or returning to the game too soon can lead to a chronic injury. Once a player returns to a sport, special footwear inserts can be worn to limit the motion of the big toe. Surgery is rarely an necessary option, unless a bone spur develops that greatly limits the motion of the toe joint.
While Grandma may have her toe conditions, I doubt she will ever present with turf toe. I don’t believe she has even kicked a soccer ball in her life, but I can confirm she has kicked my hindquarters on numerous occasions!
(Information from this article was found at http://orthopedics.about.com/od/toeproblems/p/turftoe.htm.)