What Is Turf Toe?

If you are an athlete or not, you must have heard the term turf toe. So, what is turf toe? We all know football players and athletes often suffer several injuries while playing the sport. Most of the injuries are caused by forcefully running and jumping. In my today’s article, I will discuss what exactly is turf toe in brief. Here, I have gathered all the information related to turf toes like turf toe symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and surgery. Make sure you do check out how to do turf toe treatment at home. Let us learn more about what is turf toe in detail.

What Is Turf Toe?

A turf toe is an injury caused when the toe is forcibly bent up. It usually affects the ligaments around a person’s big toe. This type of injury is more common among football and soccer players when they are about to run or jump. In other words, this injury is a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint sprain.

You can keep on reading to find out what does turf toe look like.

What Is Turf Toe Look Like?

Here, I have attached one picture of a turf toe injury.

What Is Turf Toe Look Like

You can keep on reading to know more about what is turf toe injury and its types.

Types Of Turf Toe Injury

Turf toe injuries are classified into three grades that are as follows.

  • Grade 1: In this type, soft tissues of the toe are stretched but not torn. The area around the toe can be mildly swollen and sensitive when you touch it.
  • Grade 2:  In this type, soft tissues of the toe are partially torn. The area around the toe is often swollen and bruised.
  • Grade 3: Here, soft tissues of the toe are completely torn as the MTP joint must be dislocated. It is very difficult to move the toe as the area around it must be severely swollen.

Let us now find out what is turf toe caused by.

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Causes Of Turf Toe

Below, I have listed down some actions that can cause turf toe injury.

  • Turf toe only happens when your toe is planted on the ground and your heel is raised at a 90-degree angle.
  • It also occurs if you apply too much force to your toe by making its angle upwards more than it should.
  • Sometimes, it can result from continuous movements over time such as a ballet dancer’s jumps.
  • This injury even occurs due to sudden foot movements and changes in direction while playing any sports.
  • Wearing the wrong type of footwear while playing can also lead to turf toe.
  • Doing activities where a lot of weight is put on the toe can cause a turf toe.
  • Women wearing high heels might suffer from a turf toe injury.

Symptoms Of Turf Toe

In this section, we will discuss what is turf toe symptoms. Below, I have listed down possible symptoms of turf toe.

  • Severe or mild pain in the front of your foot.
  • Swelling in the front of your foot.
  • Bruising in the front of the foot.
  • Not able to bend your big toe up and down.
  • Some people may feel their foot is weak.
  • The toe joint (MTP)gets dislocated.
  • Not able to put weight on the toe.

Note: These symptoms may vary depending upon your injury.

Diagnosis Of Turf Toe

Do you know how is turf toe diagnosed? This injury can diagnose by the doctor. Only he can explain and determine how deep the injury is.

So, below, I have noted down a few questions a doctor might ask you to diagnose this injury.

  • He may ask you about your foot problems, the type of shoes you wear, about your sports, and more.
  • The doctor will then examine your foot by observing your foot movements.
  • He will likely ask for an X-ray to find out any other damage or fracture.
  • Sometimes, they may ask you to do imaging tests such as bone scans, CT scans, or MRIs.

Thus, the diagnosis will then be made by looking into the results of the physical examinations and tests.

Keep on scrolling to know what is turf toe and how do you treat it.

Treatment For Turf Toe

Turf toe injuries are curable if treated properly. You can use the RICE technique to treat this injury at home.

  • Rest: Take a break from the sports and activities for a while. You can even use a walking boot or crutches to heal your injury.
  • Ice and Elevation: The swelling caused on your toe can be reduced by ice. You can put some ice cubes in a cloth and place them on your toe for about 20 minutes. This reduces pain and inflammation around the toes to a great extent.
  • Medication: Taking medications provided by doctors can relieve pain and swelling in no time.
  • Physical Therapy: A therapist can help your toe to heal by making you do the right type of exercise and stretches. It can help in reducing stiffness, improve flexibility, and strengthen your muscles.
  • Turf Toe Taping: You can restrict your toe motions with turf toe taping. But make sure you do wear sturdy footwear if you are using this technique.
  • Surgery: A turf toe surgery is only done if there are severe tears, fractures, or joint damages. But this surgery depends on the type of injury and which tissues are damaged.

Preventive Tips For Turf Toe

Here, I have listed down some tips that can help you to prevent a recurring turf toe injury.

  • Try not to do workouts on bare feet.
  • Make sure you do not wear shoes with flexible soles.
  • Wear shoes with hard soles to keep your toes in a normal position.

FAQ

How Long Does Turf Toe Take To Heal?

The turf toe healing time totally depends upon the type of injury. For example, Grade 1 requires one week to resolve completely. While Grade 2 requires 2 weeks and Grade 3 requires 2 to 6 months to heal.

How Do You Know If You Have Turf Toe?

You can have a turf toe if you see the following symptoms.

  • Severe or mild pain in the front of your foot.
  • Swelling in the front of your foot.
  • Bruising in the front of the foot.
  • Not able to bend your big toe up and down.
  • Some people may feel their foot is weak.
  • The toe joint (MTP)gets dislocated.
  • Not able to put weight on the toe.

Is Turf Toe Serious?

Yes, turf toe is a serious health condition and can be career-ending for an athlete.

What Is Turf Toe In Football?

A turf toe is an injury caused when the toe is forcibly bent up. It usually affects the ligaments around a person’s big toe.

Does Turf Toe Go Away?

Yes, turf toe does go away if treated properly. You must visit a doctor and follow as directed to get recover quickly

What Is Turf Toe Surgery?

A turf toe surgery is a type of surgery where severe toe tears, fractures, or joint damage are repaired.

How Do You Get Turf Toe?

You can get a turf toe due to the following reasons.

  • Turf toe only happens when your toe is planted on the ground and your heel is raised at a 90-degree angle.
  • It also occurs if you apply too much force to your toe by making its angle upwards more than it should.
  • Sometimes, it can result from continuous movements over time such as a ballet dancer’s jumps.
  • This injury even occurs due to sudden foot movements and changes in direction while playing any sports.
  • Wearing the wrong type of footwear while playing can also lead to turf toe.
  • Doing activities where a lot of weight is put on the toe can cause a turf toe.
  • Women wearing high heels might suffer from turf toe injuries.

What Does Turf Toe Feel Like?

Turf toe is graded from a mild injury that is associated with minor pain (Grade 1) to a complete tear (Grade 3) that is associated with severe pain. Symptoms of turf toe include pain, stiffness, swelling in the big toe in addition to a popping sensation when the injury occurs, and reduced ability to move the big toe.

What Happens To Untreated Turf Toe?

If left untreated, turf toe can cause bone spurs to develop around the toe joint that may need to be surgically removed. Removing the spurs can bring pain relief, but many times this does not address the cause of the bone spurs, and arthritis can still result.

Conclusion

In my above article, I have discussed what is turf toe in detail. A turf toe is an injury caused when the toe is forcibly bent up. It usually affects the ligaments around a person’s big toe. This injury is usually caused by repetitive actions over time such as running or jumping. It is most commonly reported in participants of football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, or gymnastics. The signs and symptoms can include pain, swelling, and limited joint movements. But it can be treated by initial treatments like rest, ice, compression, and elevation. By understanding what is turf toe, you can perform all your desired activities more comfortably.

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