Turf Toe? Huh?

Turf toe is the injury to the base of the big toe. The ligaments of the big toe are stretched or torn lightly resulting in pain, swelling and difficult in walking. The turf toe is common in athletes who are involved in sports such as football. The word “turf” comes from the artificial turf, as athletes are prone to such injuries on such hard surfaces.

Turf toe is usually caused when you train on hard surfaces. Actions such as pushing the toe repeatedly while playing sports or jamming the toe against a hard object can cause turf toe.

Symptoms of Turf Toe:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Difficulty walking

Treatment of Turf Toe:
Turf toe might seem like a minor injury, but it can take several weeks out of an athlete’s training program. If you have a turf toe, you should take rest for about 3 weeks or more. This will to bring down the pain and swelling. The treatment includes the following:

• Resting the toe
• Elevating the toe to relieve the pain of the big toe
• Icing the area for 5 minutes and repeating it 2 to 3 times
• Taking anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce the pain and inflammation

If the pain is severe, you can consult a doctor. Your doctor would take physical examination or X-rays to ascertain the extent of the injury and detect fracture. He/she might apply a tape or sole inserts to limit the movement of the big toe.

Once the turf toe is diagnosed, the prescribed treatment should be followed to reduce the pain and inflammation. Once the pain subsides, the athlete or person can return to the normal activities.

Credit for this article goes to http://footcare.ygoy.com/2009/08/26/what-is-a-turf-toe.