Turf toe is another common toe injury often sustained during athletic activities. This involves a sprain to the main joint of the big toe and can be extremely painful. It is caused by jamming the big toe or repeatedly pushing off it forcefully, spraining the ligaments around the big toe joint, resulting in pain and swelling as well as limited movement. At Associated Foot Care, Dr. J. Leonard Knudson's medical practice near Santa Monica, Southern California, offers turf toe treatments and services so patients can get back on their feet sooner.
Identifying and Treating Turf Toe
The condition owes its name to the Astroturf used in football fields, which is often where athletes sustain this foot injury. After the big toe gets sprained, the damage to the ligament results in pain, swelling and reduced mobility, which will worsen over time if caused by a repetitive injury. If the turf toe is caused by a sudden and forceful motion it can be painful immediately and worsen over the next 24 hours. Sometimes a pop can be felt when the injury occurs.
Diagnosing turf toe involves physical assessment with your Culver City foot doctor as well as an interview to determine the activities that contributed to the injury. The examination will look for the location of the swelling, comparing it with the uninjured limb. X-rays are often prescribed to check for other damage or fractures.
Treatment will include rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) to give the injury time to heal. Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen can address the pain and inflammation.
To rest the toe, the doctor might tape or strap it to the adjacent digit to relieve stress. Or the foot can be immobilized with a cast or special walking boot. Crutches may be recommended so no weight will be placed on the injured limb.
Turf toe usually takes two to three weeks to subside in pain. Some may require physical therapy to restore range of motion, strength and conditioning to the injured toe.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. J. Leonard Knudson - a Culver City Foot Doctor for treatment.
Dr. J. Leonard Knudson is a Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Culver City and near West Los Angeles. We also tend to patients from nearby - UCLA, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice, Santa Monica and the West Los Angeles area.
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