Turf toe may not be the most common foot ailment, but it negatively affects many people, particularly athletes. This injury is associated with the big toe joint, leading to pain in this area. This joint is rather complex, and carries quite a bit of weight. There are seven tendons, along with multiple ligaments, nerves, and bones, just within this small area. Taking this into consideration, it is easy to understand how turf toe occurs often. In addition, treatment becomes more complex as the injury worsens.
Causes of turf toe are typically related to a sports injury, though other factors may be in play. Repetitive forces, such as the ones soccer players experience, can lead to turf toe. In addition, certain amounts of trauma on the affected area can aggravate turf toe.
When evaluating turf toe, it is important to know the degree of the injury. Your podiatrist will likely perform an X-ray or other scans, such as a CT or bone scan. This can tell the doctor quite a bit, from if the injury is causing joint problems or if it is also affecting the sesamoids. The sesamoids are small bones right under the larger bones that form the actual joint.
Treatment varies, though the ultimate purpose is to get the turf toe back to normal. Oftentimes, treatment is rather simple, such as rest and icing is enough to do the trick. However, in more severe turf toe cases, podiatrists will require the use of custom orthotics, especially if you are an athlete.
If you are experiencing pain in your big toe joint, this could be a sign of turf toe. Contact Alpine Foot Specialists for evaluation and treatment.
Courtesy of: American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine