Signs of Turf Toe

Turf toe is a condition that results in moderate to severe pain under the big toe as a result of soft tissue damage, and derives its name from the artificial turf that can cause the injury. Turf toe occurs when shoes grip onto a turf and stick to it, causing body weight to move forward and the big toe to bend upward beyond its normal limit. There are several signs to help diagnose turf toe, and three grades of severity associated with the injury.

Pain and Swelling

• The most common sign that an athlete may have suffered a turf toe injury is pain that occurs at the base of the big toe. In some cases, pain will be accompanied by swelling at the joint of the big toe and the metatarsal bone in the foot.

Restricted Range of Motion

• In suspected cases of turf toe, an athletic trainer or doctor will perform a flexion test, which measures the range of motion of the big toe when bent upward or pulled. Significant restriction of motion accompanied with tenderness and pain is usually a strong indication of a turf toe injury.

Eburnation

• Eburnation is the process in which the main portion of the big toe, once soft and spongy, becomes hard, brittle and easily breakable. Once this occurs, the articular cartilage, the tissue that covers the bone joints, is more prone to damage from gradual deterioration.

Grades of Severity

• The grades of severity for a turf toe injury are: Grade I, a stretching of the joint capsules and ligaments, Grade II, a partial tear of the joint capsules and ligaments and Grade III, a complete tear of the ligaments and joint capsules. Recovery time is based on severity, but Grade I injuries usually take anywhere between four to six weeks to heal.