Turf Toe

What is turf toe?

Turf toe is pain at the joint where the big toe attaches to the rest of the foot.

How does it occur?

Turf toe can result from excessive pushing off of the big toe when you run or jump. Jamming the toe into a hard surface can also cause turf toe.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include pain where your big toe attaches to your foot. You may have trouble bending and straightening your toe. Your toe joint may be swollen.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and examine your toe. You may have an X-ray to be sure you did not break your toe.

Turf toe can sometimes look like gout, a type of arthritis of the big toe. You may have tests to be sure you do not have gout.

How is it treated?

To treat this condition:

• Put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth on the area every 3 to 4 hours, for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• Raise your foot on a pillow when you sit or lie down
• Take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, or other medicine as directed by your provider. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days.
• Your provider may give you an injection of a corticosteroid medicine.
• You may be given a shoe insert that limits the motion of your big toe.
• You may need to tape your big toe to provide support and limit movement.

How long do the effects last?

The length of recovery depends on many factors such as your age, health, and if you have had a previous toe injury. Recovery time also depends on the severity of the toe injury. Pain from turf toe may last several weeks or longer. You need to stop doing the activities that cause pain until your toe has improved. If you continue doing activities that cause pain, your symptoms will return and it will take longer to recover.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities depends on how soon your toe recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better. The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.

You may safely return to your normal activities when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:

• You have full range of motion in the injured toe compared to the uninjured toes.
• You have full strength of the injured toe compared to the uninjured toes.
• You can walk straight ahead without pain or limping.

How can I prevent turf toe?

Turf toe is best prevented by wearing good shoes that fit properly and by avoiding jamming your big toe into a hard surface.