Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Turf Toe?SymptomsTreatmentRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Turf Toe?
Symptoms
Treatment
Recovery
Turf toe is a condition that affects the ligaments or other soft tissue under the big toe. This condition usually occurs when the toe is hyperextended (forced upward)—like when the ball of the foot is on the ground, and the heel is lifted.
This injury is common among athletes who play sports on artificial turf, which is how it got its name. However, it can also affect people who are not athletes.
This article discusses turf toe—symptoms, treatment, recovery time, and returning to activity after the injury is healed.
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What Is Meant By a “Turf Toe” Injury?
“Turf toe” describes an injury to themetatarsophalangealjoint. This joint comprises ligaments that connect the bone on the sole of your foot, below the big toe (proximal phalanx), to the bones that connect your toes to the larger bones in your feet (metatarsals).
Turf Toe GradingTurf toe injuries can range from mild to severe and are graded as follows:Grade 1: The soft tissue is stretched, causing pain and swelling.Grade 2: The soft tissue is partially torn. Pain is more significant, and there is more swelling and bruising. It is often difficult to move the toe.Grade 3: Soft tissue is completely torn, and symptoms are severe.
Turf Toe Grading
Turf toe injuries can range from mild to severe and are graded as follows:Grade 1: The soft tissue is stretched, causing pain and swelling.Grade 2: The soft tissue is partially torn. Pain is more significant, and there is more swelling and bruising. It is often difficult to move the toe.Grade 3: Soft tissue is completely torn, and symptoms are severe.
Turf toe injuries can range from mild to severe and are graded as follows:
Do I Have Turf Toe Symptoms?
How It Is Diagnosed
If you’re experiencing turf toe symptoms, see a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment. A healthcare provider will ask about recent activities that may have caused or contributed to the injury. They will also do a physical exam to assess pain, swelling, and range of motion.
If your provider suspects tissue damage, they may recommend imaging withX-raysandmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)to grade the injury and determine the best course of action.
What Is Turf Toe Treatment?
A healthcare provider will determine turf toe treatment based on the severity of the injury. However, all turf toe injuries can benefit from theRICE protocolearly on, which is:
Grade 1 Treatment
Grades 2 and 3 Treatment
Grades 2 and 3 turf toe injuries come with partial or complete soft tissue tearing and more severe pain and swelling. Treatments for more severe turf toe can include:
Additional Treatment
Less than 2% of turf toe injuries require surgery. It is typically done if the joint is unstable or when conservative treatment is unsuccessful.
Physical therapy is also beneficial for decreasing pain and improving range of motion and strength after a turf toe injury.Physical therapy for turf toe also includes proprioception and agility training exercises and recommendations for orthotics and the best shoes for your specific physical activities.
A physical therapist can also help ensure that you do not return to your activities before your injury is fully healed—which can reduce your risk of reinjury.
Recovery Time From Turf ToeRecovery from turf toe depends on the severity of your injury.Grade 1: Subjective; varies depending on your pain toleranceGrade 2: Four to six weeks of immobilizationGrade 3: Eight weeks (minimum) of immobilizationIt can take up to six months to return to normal.
Recovery Time From Turf Toe
Recovery from turf toe depends on the severity of your injury.Grade 1: Subjective; varies depending on your pain toleranceGrade 2: Four to six weeks of immobilizationGrade 3: Eight weeks (minimum) of immobilizationIt can take up to six months to return to normal.
Recovery from turf toe depends on the severity of your injury.
It can take up to six months to return to normal.
Resuming Normal Activity After Turf Toe
After a grade 1 turf toe injury, you can return to normal activities once your pain is under control. Grades 2 and 3 injuries take longer to heal. Your recovery timeline and return to activity depend on the severity of your injury.
Returning to sports activities after a grade 2 injury can take around two or three months, while grade 3 injuries—as well as turf toe that requires surgery—can take up to six months to return to normal.
Summary
Turf toe is an injury that affects the soft tissue—ligamentsandtendons—at the base of the big toe on the underside of the foot. It is named after the most common cause of the injury—playing sports on artificial turf. These injuries vary in severity but typically improve with conservative treatment. In rare cases, surgery is required.
Recovery time after turf toe injury depends on the injury’s severity and the type of activities you plan to return to. Pain is the primary barrier to activity after a grade 1 injury, while grades 2 and 3 take weeks to months to heal fully. Returning to high-level sports activities after more severe injuries can take six months.
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 Orthopaedic Surgeons.Turf toe.Mass General Brigham.Turf toe.Foot Health Facts.RICE protocol.Najefi AA, Jeyaseelan L, Welck M.Turf toe.EFORT Open Rev. 2018;3(9):501-506. doi:10.1302%2F2058-5241.3.180012Pinter ZW, Farnell CG, Huntley S, et al.Outcomes of chronic turf toe repair in non-athlete population: a retrospective study.Indian J Orthop. 2020;54(1):43-48. doi:10.1007%2Fs43465-019-00010-8Chinn L, Hertel J.Rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries in athletes.Clin Sports Med. 2010;29(1):157-167. doi:10.1016%2Fj.csm.2009.09.006
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 Orthopaedic Surgeons.Turf toe.Mass General Brigham.Turf toe.Foot Health Facts.RICE protocol.Najefi AA, Jeyaseelan L, Welck M.Turf toe.EFORT Open Rev. 2018;3(9):501-506. doi:10.1302%2F2058-5241.3.180012Pinter ZW, Farnell CG, Huntley S, et al.Outcomes of chronic turf toe repair in non-athlete population: a retrospective study.Indian J Orthop. 2020;54(1):43-48. doi:10.1007%2Fs43465-019-00010-8Chinn L, Hertel J.Rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries in athletes.Clin Sports Med. 2010;29(1):157-167. doi:10.1016%2Fj.csm.2009.09.006
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 Orthopaedic Surgeons.Turf toe.Mass General Brigham.Turf toe.Foot Health Facts.RICE protocol.Najefi AA, Jeyaseelan L, Welck M.Turf toe.EFORT Open Rev. 2018;3(9):501-506. doi:10.1302%2F2058-5241.3.180012Pinter ZW, Farnell CG, Huntley S, et al.Outcomes of chronic turf toe repair in non-athlete population: a retrospective study.Indian J Orthop. 2020;54(1):43-48. doi:10.1007%2Fs43465-019-00010-8Chinn L, Hertel J.Rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries in athletes.Clin Sports Med. 2010;29(1):157-167. doi:10.1016%2Fj.csm.2009.09.006
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Turf toe.
Mass General Brigham.Turf toe.
Foot Health Facts.RICE protocol.
Najefi AA, Jeyaseelan L, Welck M.Turf toe.EFORT Open Rev. 2018;3(9):501-506. doi:10.1302%2F2058-5241.3.180012
Pinter ZW, Farnell CG, Huntley S, et al.Outcomes of chronic turf toe repair in non-athlete population: a retrospective study.Indian J Orthop. 2020;54(1):43-48. doi:10.1007%2Fs43465-019-00010-8
Chinn L, Hertel J.Rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries in athletes.Clin Sports Med. 2010;29(1):157-167. doi:10.1016%2Fj.csm.2009.09.006
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