For those of us who are not athletes and prefer to sit and watch TV rather than run around on grass and rubberized courts, turf toe can sound as unfamiliar as some Bulgarian disease. So what is turf toe? Turf toe is actually a pretty simple injury, although it hurts a lot when it happens to you. Most cases take place on sports turf, hence its name. It’s also why couch potatoes tend to be unfamiliar with it.
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When you’re wearing soft-soled, flexible shoes that grip well on practically any kind of surface, a slight imbalance can cause foot damage. In cases where the weight of your body moves forward when the front part of your foot is still on the ground, the big toe will be made to bear your weight, making it extend far past its normal point. A popping sound may be felt or heard, followed by immediate pain. Blood will then swell to the injured toe, causing swelling and redness. This is turf toe. It can happen to most athletes, although ballerinas, football players, and martial artists tend to suffer more from this kind of injury due to the specifics of their sport.
Surgery is required when the foot is checked and shows signs of fracture or massive tissue damage, or when the nail of the big toe is digging into the tissue of the toe. The surgery is usually not done, for most turf toe cases are mere sprains, despite their overwhelming pain. Walking properly is impossible when you’re suffering with turf toe, and even if you need to get well as soon as possible for an upcoming sports event, turf toe surgery won’t make your tissues swell down and heal your big toe by morning, so when your doctor says that surgery isn’t required, follow his instructions on keeping the weight off the foot and possibly using braces or crutches to help you move around.
To help your toe heal as quickly as possible, use a compression bandage, turf toe brace, or crutches when your doctor recommends it. Keep the toe as stable as possible, for any kind of moving or stretching can cause excruciating pain and make the injury more severe. Applying ice to the foot can help keep the swelling and pain down. As the toe starts to heal, therapy may be necessary to hasten recovery and make sure the big toe regains its proper shape and function. Turf toe can take time to heal, so be patient, for working the injury too soon can result in a damaged toe that can be impossible to fix.
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