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Image via WikipediaWhere is the one place you always hear about turf toe? In football right? Well this sports injury is not just limited to the football field, it can happen in any sport. The main reason why it got the name turf toe, is that when athletes play on artificial turf, the foot can stick to the hard surface. When someone has gotten turf toe, what has happened is that they have sprained their big toe. This can happen by jamming the toe, or by bending it too far in either direction. The toe joint is then jammed or stretched beyond it’s limits. The result is very painful, and that pain stays with you for a while because you’ll feel every bit of pressure that you put on the big toe, which is with every step you take. Also the toe will swell and will have very limited movement.Once you have gotten turf toe, you should follow the RICE treatment. That means to Rest, put Ice on the toe, Compress the injury with a wrap to limit movement, and to Elevate the foot above your heart, which will help with pain. You can take ibuprofen to help with swelling and pain. Remember that the more you are active on the toe that is injured, the more likely it won’t heal and will continue to be re-injured. So make sure to rest as much as possible, taking a break from the sports and training, allowing time for your toe to heal.
Turf toe can be very serious and you should seek to visit your podiatrist to make sure of the extent of the injury. While you might have turf toe, you could actually have broken bones that need attention. If you do not have a podiatrist, Dr. Blaakman at Upstate Footcare would love to be your preferred podiatrist. Turf toe is a common sports injury that he sees and can help you get back in the game as soon as possible.
Great advice. I like the RICE acronym. Great helpful information, especially for high school athletes.
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