With the start of the 2015 football season, many pedal injuries are going to be taking place amongst the athletes, the most common of which will be turf toe. When athletes play on artificial turf, because it is a harder surface, it does not have much give and when they push off into a sprint, the toe is forcibly bent upwards and often meeting resistance from the turf, it gets sprained. Hence the name ‘turf toe’. This problem mostly affects dancers, gymnasts, wrestlers and football, basketball and soccer players. The NFL has been revising its policies regarding concussions, hopefully it will also pay attention to smaller but more frequent turf toe injuries.

What happens when the toe does not bend?

When you walk or run, you raise your heel first. The weight of your body rests on the ball of the foot, at times, if you wish to run faster, you propel yourself forward with the help of the big toe. Should your toe not bend, but remain flat, the ligaments around it get injured, causing the toe to be sprained.

Symptoms of turf toe:

• Severe pain if it’s a sudden forceful movement
• Swelling
• Limited joint movement

Diagnosis:

Sometimes, an athlete with turf toe will not pay any heed especially if the pain and swelling is bearable and only when the pain becomes excruciating is a doctor consulted. A well experienced podiatrist never takes any foot problem lightly. Before any kind of treatment can be done, your podiatrist will get a detailed account of when it happened, what sport the patient plays, the kind of shoes that are worn and possibly an X-ray to rule out any major damage.

Basic Treatment:

• Rest
• Icing the area
• Compression
• Elevation
• Over the counter anti-inflammatory medication
• In severe cases, some podiatrists may suggest surgical intervention

At Syracuse Podiatry, located in Fayetteville, NY, Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico and our wonderful, caring team are here to help. Together, we do a superior job with our patients from the moment they enter the office to the time they leave. Whether you require reconstructive foot and ankle surgery or whether you have turf toe, you are equally important. Contact our office at (315) 446 3668 and schedule an appointment if you suspect you might be suffering from turf toe.