Toe injuries are not often associated with the need to
remove an athlete from a contest. Turf toe is a painful foot injury that has
pushed athletes to the sideline for extended recovery periods.
The human foot is divided into three basic sections: the
hindfoot (heel), the midfoot (arch), and the forefoot (toes). Turf toe affects the forefoot.
Turf toe involves the first metatarsalphalangeal joint. This joint is the connection between
the great toe and the bone that anchors it to the foot. Like other sprains, it consists of
damage to the connective tissues that stabilize the moving parts.
The mechanism of injury consists of the sudden, extreme
dorsiflexion (upward bending) of the great toe. The force results in stretching and tearing ligaments beyond
their normal range of motion.
Cartilage can also be injured in more severe trauma.
Inflammation follows with swelling and pain. Initial treatment includes rest, ice, compression and elevation.
This type of injury usually involves an activity on a firm
surface. Turf toe is most common
in football. The recent popularity
of artificial turf over natural turf is part of the reason for the rise in
cases. A force applied to the calf
muscle while the knee is flexed is another cause of turf toe.
“The injury is primarily mechanical in nature and so is the
treatment. Putting the foot in a
more rigid shoe or an orthotic device will avoid further injury,” said Dr.
Joseph DiFrancesca, a Norwich podiatrist who treats many athletes with turf
toe. He also believes that careful
selection of athletic shoes with a rigid shank will reduce injury rates.
The healing process for turf toe can take several
weeks. Unfortunately, an early
return to activity without sufficient healing can lead to a chronic
debilitating injury
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