The Big Toe Injury Commonly Associated with Artificial Turf
What body part allows a wide receiver to take off down the football field? What makes it possible for him to increase his speed until he can turn and grab hold of the ball? Sure, he’s got to be strong and fit, agile and quick, and in complete control of his body. But he couldn’t do any of it if it weren’t for his big toes.
Football players and other athletes depend on their big toes to push off the ground, get moving, and accelerate. Specifically, they rely on the joint at the base of the big toe, called the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint.
A common injury among football players is a sprain of the MTP joint known as turf toe. This type of sprain can happen when the big toe jams into the ground and is forced to bend upward. It’s more likely to occur on artificial turf than grass – hence the name “turf toe.”
Three Grades of Sprain
Board-certified podiatrist Kenneth R. Wilhelm, DPM, explains that a turf toe injury, like an ankle sprain, is an injury to the soft tissues in the MTP joint. The joint’s ligaments or tendons forcibly stretch too far or in an unnatural direction. In addition, a turf toe injury may involve displacement of the sesamoid bones, the three tiny bones at the bottom of the joint complex.
We rate sprains on a three-grade scale:
- A grade 1 sprain means the tissues have stretched too far. There’s minimal pain, and a player should be able to return to the field quite soon.
- A grade 2 sprain is more serious because one or more tissues have partial tears. This grade of sprain requires more rest and healing time.
- Finally, a grade 3 sprain means a complete tendon or ligament tear. A ball player diagnosed with grade 3 turf toe can expect to be out of play for several weeks or more. He may even require surgery to repair and restore all the structures to their proper positions.
Seek Care From Our Podiatrist For Toe Injuries
We often hear about turf toe injuries among NFL players, but they can also happen in Fairfax County since many high schools and universities here have football fields with synthetic turf. We encourage anyone with a big toe injury to make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm for an examination. Swift, proper treatment is the best way to ensure a return to the field. Call Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Centreville, Virginia, at (703) 996-3000 or contact us online.
