What is turf toe?

Tanglewood Foot Specialists

1011 Augusta Dr. Suite 202

Houston, TX 77057

713-785-7881

Houston foot & ankle specialist Dr. Andrew Schneider offers sports podiatry, diabetic foot care, and treatment and surgery of all foot and ankle problems to residents of Houston Texas and surrounding areas. Contact us today for an immediate appointment.

A: Turf toe effects Houston athletes Turf toe is a sprain of the great toe joint, occurring when the joint over-extends. It is a common football injury with a high prevalence on artificial turf, thus providing the name of the condition. It is not exclusive to football, however.

Turf toe can occur anytime the joint is already extended. A force pushing you backwards will jolt the joint into suddenly hyperextending. Over time this one-time injury can cause breakdown of the joint. The motion in this joint will become limited and painful. A spur, known as a dorsal bunion, often forms on the top of the metatarsal bone. This becomes arthritis, further restricts the joint and causes additional pain

Turf toe is progressive and gets worse with time and continued activity. The sooner it is treatment, the faster it will improve and have the pain controlled. If you are concerned that you have turf toe, or any other foot injury from sports, visit your Houston podiatrist for immediate treatment.