Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationSymptomsTreatmentRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Location
Symptoms
Treatment
Recovery
In a toe sprain, the ligaments are stretched too far, torn, or hyperextended, which causes pain. Toe sprain doesn’t directly affect your toe bone.
Sprained toe is also known as turf toe. Turf toe gets its name from the increase in sprained toe injuries that occur when playing sports on turf fields compared to grass. Natural grass fields provide better foot, toe, and ankle support. Wearing athletic shoes designed for agility rather than support can also be a factor in getting turf toe.
In this article you’ll learn where in the foot a toe sprain occurs, how a toe sprained feels, what treatments are available, and how to recover from a sprained toe.
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Sprained Toe Location
Spraining your toe means injuring the toe’s main joint, called themetatarsophalangeal joint(MTP). When this happens, the surrounding joint ligaments are overstretched or torn, causing pain and swelling. This can happen when your toe is forcefully hyperextended, meaning there is excessive movement in one direction. This is why the common cause of sprained toes is injury from sports or other physical activity.
Anyone can sprain their toe, but there’s an increased risk when you have the following:
Broken Toe LocationBroken toes are different from sprained toes. A fracture (break) can happen in any forefront toe bone. This means the injury can be anywhere along the five metatarsal bones and 14 phalanges (toe bones).
Broken Toe Location
Broken toes are different from sprained toes. A fracture (break) can happen in any forefront toe bone. This means the injury can be anywhere along the five metatarsal bones and 14 phalanges (toe bones).
Common Types of Sports Injuries
Symptoms: How a Sprained Toe Feels
A sprained toe can be quite uncomfortable and can make walking a challenge. The following signs and symptoms tell you how a sprained toe feels.
A sprained toe feels like:
Sprained vs. Broken ToeA sprained toe is a hyperextension or tear in a ligament, whereas a broken toe involves a bone crack or fracture (break). A broken toe is a more serious medical situation.Sometimes you may not know if you’ve sprained or broken a toe, especially if it’s an acute, or sudden, break or fracture and because both can occur at once. While both conditions are painful, the main difference is that a sprained toe will still have some mobility. A broken toe will not be able to move. A broken toe also can be more painful than a sprained toe. Recalling if you had heard a breaking, popping, or other noise during the injury is another clue.
Sprained vs. Broken Toe
A sprained toe is a hyperextension or tear in a ligament, whereas a broken toe involves a bone crack or fracture (break). A broken toe is a more serious medical situation.Sometimes you may not know if you’ve sprained or broken a toe, especially if it’s an acute, or sudden, break or fracture and because both can occur at once. While both conditions are painful, the main difference is that a sprained toe will still have some mobility. A broken toe will not be able to move. A broken toe also can be more painful than a sprained toe. Recalling if you had heard a breaking, popping, or other noise during the injury is another clue.
A sprained toe is a hyperextension or tear in a ligament, whereas a broken toe involves a bone crack or fracture (break). A broken toe is a more serious medical situation.
Sometimes you may not know if you’ve sprained or broken a toe, especially if it’s an acute, or sudden, break or fracture and because both can occur at once. While both conditions are painful, the main difference is that a sprained toe will still have some mobility. A broken toe will not be able to move. A broken toe also can be more painful than a sprained toe. Recalling if you had heard a breaking, popping, or other noise during the injury is another clue.
What Is Turf Toe?
Sprained Toe Treatment
Seeing your healthcare provider about a sprained toe can help you determine whether you have a toe sprain or a broken toe. This is necessary for proper treatment and a quick recovery.
When you have a sprained toe, you have several options that fall under what’s known as theRICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method for sports injuries.This treatment method for sports injury applies only in cases of minor injury. For more serious injuries, consult with your healthcare provider.
Causes of Toe Pain and Treatment Options
Rest the Toe
Resting the toe means stopping the activity immediately and taking the pressure off your foot. During rest time, walking should be limited to avoid putting additional pressure on the toe, which can further injure the toe.
Ice the Toe
Ice the toe for 20 minutes with cold packs several times daily until swelling and pain subside. Putting ice directly onto swollen skin will hurt and is not advised as it can shock the system and causefrostbite. Instead, cover the ice or your toe with a small towel or cloth before applying.
Use Compression
Elevate Your Foot
Elevating your foot means propping it up above your heart or inclining your legs when lying down to reduce swelling. This is particularly useful in the first 24 to 48 hours after toe sprain injury.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderConsult with a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms of a serious injury:Severe pain, swelling, or bruisingPain and swelling that do not go away after a few daysBeing unable to tolerate any weight on the areaAn obvious deformity
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Consult with a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms of a serious injury:Severe pain, swelling, or bruisingPain and swelling that do not go away after a few daysBeing unable to tolerate any weight on the areaAn obvious deformity
Consult with a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms of a serious injury:
Over-the-counter (OTC)nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)that can also help to reduce pain and swelling in the treatment period include Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen).
Using Naproxen for Chronic Pain Management
Recovering From a Sprained Toe
Recovering from turf toe is best done with rest and treatment from a medical professional in serious cases. It does not commonly require further interventions, such as surgery. While recovering from a sprained toe, applying heat to the injury can help you stretch the area and may be usedduring physical therapy, if necessary.
Depending on the severity of the toe sprain, you may also need to wear suitable supportive devices and bandages and participate in strengthening exercises.If you’re unsure what level of support is needed during your recovery, consult a healthcare provider.
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Summary
A sprained toe is a sprain in the main ligaments surrounding the main joint and connecting it to bone. You can get a sprained toe while engaging in physical activity, wearing unsupportive footwear, or due to other conditions including gout.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, and bruising. Treatment for sprained toe follows the RICE method for treating minor sport injuries. This includes resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the foot.
Treatment and recovery can also include NSAIDs like ibuprofen, heat, and physical therapy exercises to reduce symptoms and regain mobility and functioning. If you have any questions, consult with a healthcare provider.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Turf toe.Nationwide Children’s Hopsital.Sports medicine: Turf toe.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Toe and foot fractures.Mount Nittany Health.Toe sprain.NHS.How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?National Institutes of Arthritis and Muskoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports injuries: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Turf toe.Nationwide Children’s Hopsital.Sports medicine: Turf toe.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Toe and foot fractures.Mount Nittany Health.Toe sprain.NHS.How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?National Institutes of Arthritis and Muskoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports injuries: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Turf toe.Nationwide Children’s Hopsital.Sports medicine: Turf toe.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Toe and foot fractures.Mount Nittany Health.Toe sprain.NHS.How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?National Institutes of Arthritis and Muskoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports injuries: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Turf toe.
Nationwide Children’s Hopsital.Sports medicine: Turf toe.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Toe and foot fractures.
Mount Nittany Health.Toe sprain.
NHS.How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?
National Institutes of Arthritis and Muskoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Sports injuries: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
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