Turf Toe Pain Relief and Prevention
Achieving Maximum PerformanceWhat Causes Turf Toe?
Turf toe is a sprain to the ligaments around the big toe joint, which works primarily as a hinge to permit up and down motion. Just behind the big toe joint in the ball of your foot are two pea-shaped bones embedded in the tendon that moves your big toe.
Called sesamoids, these bones work like a pulley for the tendon and provide leverage when you walk or run. They also absorb the weight that presses on the ball of the foot.
When you are walking or running, you start each subsequent step by raising your heel and letting your body weight come forward onto the ball of your foot. At a certain point you propel yourself forward by “pushing off” of your big toe and allowing your weight to shift to the other foot.
If the toe for some reason stays flat on the ground and doesn’t lift to push off, you run the risk of suddenly injuring the area around the joint. Or if you are tackled or fall forward and the toe stays flat, the effect is the same as if you were sitting and bending your big toe back by hand beyond its normal limit, causing hyperextension of the toe. That hyperextension, repeated over time or with enough sudden force, can — cause a sprain in the ligaments that surround the joint.
Typically with turf toe, the injury is sudden. It is most commonly seen in athletes playing on artificial surfaces, which are harder than grass surfaces and to which cleats are more likely to stick. It can also happen on a grass surface, especially if the shoe being worn doesn’t provide adequate support for the foot.
Often the injury occurs in athletes wearing flexible soccer-style shoes that let the foot bend too far forward.
How Is Turf Toe Treated?
The basic treatment for treating turf toe, initiailly, is a combination of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (remember the acronym R.I.C.E).
This basic treatment approach is to give the injury ample time to heal, which means the foot will need to be rested and the joint protected from further injury. The doctor may recommend an over-the-counter oral medication such as ibuprofen to control pain and reduce inflammation. To rest the toe, the doctor may tape or strap it to the toe next to it to relieve the stress on it.
Another way to protect the joint is to immobilize the foot in a cast or special walking boot that keeps it from moving. The doctor may also ask you to use crutches so that no weight is placed on the injured joint. In severe cases, an orthopaedic surgeon may suggest a surgical intervention. It typically takes two to three weeks for the pain to subside.
After the immobilization of the joint ends, some patients require physical therapy in order to re-establish range of motion, strength, and conditioning of the injured toe.
Can Turf Toe Be Prevented?
One goal of treatment should be to evaluate why the injury occurred and to take steps to keep it from reoccurring. One way to prevent turf toe is to wear shoes with better support to help keep the toe joint from excessive bending and force with pushing off.
You may also want to consider using specially designed inserts that your doctor or physical therapist can prescribe for you.
For more information please visit: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise…
Types of Custom Orthotics:
Custom Orthotics are individually handcrafted and constructed of various materials. Our primary concern is with improving foot function and minimizing stress forces that could ultimately cause foot deformity and pain throughout the body.
While varying in design most orthotic supports are aimed at the mass market, this is fine in many cases but to be fully effective each support should be custom crafted and tailored to each individual foot.
The Custom Orthotics on Orthoticskansascity.com are designed for mild conditions such as arch, heel and forefoot pain. Where specified, they will provide arch support and basic gait correction and cushioning for almost all aspects of you daily footwear needs.
Difference between Custom Orthotics and the others:
Custom Orthotics: Provide basic motion control helping prevent in-ward and outward rolling of the foot. They may also provide protection against heel shock or plantar pressures, especially Diabetic Orthotics.
Professionally fitted orthotics are recommended when there is severe pain present or when gait control is of importance to the individual especially in sports performance athletes, outdoor walkers, golfers etc.
Professionally crafted custom orthotics are available from Podiatrists, Orthotists, Physiotherapists and other associated healthcare professionals.
In the Kansas City area the best Custom Orthotics are available from Dr.Andy Minor.