TURF TOE

Our skilled sports medicine specialists can provide treatment for athletes with a turf toe injury. Let us help you recover from your injury so that you can get back to playing sports and enjoying other activities!

Turf toe, also known as a metatarsophalangeal joint sprain, gets its name because it occurs often in athletes who play on artificial turf. However, this injury can occur on any surface and as a result of participation in many sports and other activities. It can even be the result of not wearing the correct footwear.

A turf toe injury occurs when the ligament under the big toe hyperextends, causing a sprain in the main joint of the big toe. It often happens when an athlete pushes off of an artificial surface and their big toe remains flat on the ground, but can also be the result of impact with another player. This injury is graded on a scale of 1 to 3, with a grade 1 injury being mild, and a grade 3 injury being a complete tear. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling in the big toe, along with a popping sensation when the injury occurs and reduced ability to move the big toe.

If turf toe is not treated early or effectively, it can lead to long-term stiffness and pain in the toe joint, so it is important to seek medical treatment right away. Treatment is based on the severity of the injury, and can include rest, ice, compression, elevation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, a boot to reduce movement, walking crutches, or exercises to improve range of movement. Physical therapy may be recommended to prevent stiffness and strengthen the joint.

Let our orthopedic team provide you with treatment for turf toe. Call us at (843) 936-0715 to schedule an appointment so we can make a plan for treatment and get you back to your active lifestyle.