Turf toe occurs when the big toe is bending upwards to an abnormal degree and it causes pain at the bottom of the toe. A turf toe damages the ligaments connecting the big toe to the foot and damaging the joint capsule in the process. These ligaments are a tough group of tissues attached to the joint bones and prevent uneven movement of the joints. Two bones contact each other in the joints.

The condition of turf toe is also known as hallux limitus. It is associated with decrease in the range of mobility of the joint of the big toe and leads to severe pain in the big toe. The range of mobility is the degree to which a particular body part can be moved. Turf toe is a common problem with people who play games like football on tough surfaces like artificial turf (fake grass).

Different types of turf toe

There are three different types of turf toe ranging from least severe to the most severe. The severity depends on the type of the damage to the ligaments and joint capsule. The severity depends on the type of damage to the ligaments and joint capsules. Following are types of turf toe:

Grade I –The ligaments and joint capsule get stretched in this case

Grade II – The ligaments and joint capsules are partially torn

Grade III – The ligaments and joint capsules are completely torn

Causes of turf toe

The major cause of turf toe is direct injury to bone below the cartilage or the articular cartilage. The signs and symptoms of the turf toe might erupt suddenly and get worse within 24-hour period. In some cases, the symptoms get worse as the season progresses. Turf toe might be caused by a direct injury to bone beneath the cartilage.

Due to turf toe, the shoe grip becomes hard on the surface and gules to it. This is especially true for the shoes having cleats on them as the cleats help the shoe grip the ground. The shoe sticks to the ground as the person tries to stop quickly in motion. The gripping of such shoes onto the surface causes the body weight to be transferred forward and big toe to hit the interior of the shoe. This jams the big toe. While doing this the big toe, its ligaments and the joint capsule is bend upwards. The most common cause of turf toe is overextension of big toe.

Just one time jamming of the toe might lead to turf toe, however, repeated jamming of the toe is sure to cause turf toe. In either case, the bone of the big toe has to undergo excessive stress.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of turf toe is not difficult. For this, the doctor has to go thorough the medical history of the patient. This will assist in determining the cause and time of injury. The patient might need to describe, how the big toe extended in the upward direction causing pain and swelling. Bruises on the toe determine severity of the injury. The decline in the range of motion is also examined. An X-ray of the foot might be taken to ensure that there are no breaks.

Treatment of the turf toe

The doctor would recommend the turf toe to be treated in the following way. After the injury, the toe must be immediately iced. After this, the toe should be bandaged with a tape to compress or squeeze the area, reducing the swelling. Sometimes it is also important to apply heat to relieve pain in the toe. There is another technique called the contrast bath. This process involves placing the foot in hot and cold water alternatively, repeating the method for a certain period of time. Most importantly, patients suffering from turf toe are recommended to rest as much as possible.

Turf Toe Educational Video