Did you tune into the Super Bowl recently? Its important to talk about a condition called Turf Toe as its fairly common among athletes.
Turf Toe occurs when a big toe is jammed repeatedly on a hard surface *ouch*. This is seen mostly with athletes who play on artificial turf and repeatedly stop and start suddenly, such as with soccer,football and rugby.
This sprain of the joint where the big toe meets the foot can cause pain at the base of the big toe, which can be accompanied by swelling or stiffness. If left untreated, it will get worse. It can also lead to arthritis, instability, dislocation and loss of cartilage.
How can you heal Turf Toe?
The primary means of treating turf toe is rest, even if it means be sidelined for a time; it can take up to a month or more for turf toe to heal, so you’ll have to take time off from sports and avoid activity on that foot. Your doctor might also recommend that your rest be coupled with applying ice, taking anti-inflammatory medications and elevating the foot.
Patients that don’t heed this advice risk further injury and an even longer recovery time, so it’s better to take a few weeks now than having to miss an entire season. If you suspect that you might have turf toe, we encourage you to reach out to a foot and ankle specialist. To find one near you, please visit http://www.hyprocure.com/hyprocure-doctor/
