Turf Toe

Turf toe is a common sports injury that occurs when the big toe is bent upward (hyperextended), causing a sprain to the ligaments under the big toe resulting in pain and swelling.

What Shoe is Right for Me? Transcript

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Welcome back to another episode of the foot wellness chat powered by foot solutions and again my name is brian scott vp of strategic growth and i’m here with the miss donna robertson chief pedorthist thank you very much yes so miss donna the question of the day so i have right here some shoes what is the difference between a poorly designed shoe and a very well-designed shoe that we offer here at foot solutions can you speak to this i would be glad to thank you very much first of all let me say that if you’re having foot issues foot pain you do not want to just go to a department store and pick up a shoe that you that has been highly advertised as cushioning or eliminating this discomfort and think that it will do the same for you you ha you need to address your own individual foot needs we all walk from point a to point b differently we get there at different steps length or step length different stride as far as and foot position so i would not suggest that anyone go out on their own analysis of their foot to address a severe problem that could be occurring that would lead further up the kinetic chain and destroy other joints and expecting it to resolve all of their issues a lot of times what it does it transfers the issues to other areas if the foot is not supported correctly with a highly technical shoe that has been analyzed they have consulted with the allied healthcare professionals on foot care as well as foot structures that’s needed for the foot standing walking even sitting and resting so that’s what these shoes have been done or have been addressed in those issues the shoe that i’m talking about here is a very controlled anti-pronated but it also is an anti-supinated shoe as well so it’s a good neutral virtual positioning when we look at the last of the shoe you want the straighter the last this is the last which is the shape and the function of the shoe so if you have a curved shoe you have loss of stability there’s a lot more flexibility in the shoe the straighter the less the more stable the more direction of force is occurring in the appropriate alignment that your foot needs to be in with this shoe also has a wider heel base a wide midfoot base which supports the full plantar surface of the foot the sole of the shoe should always match the positioning of your ankles medial and lateral aspect of the ankle as well as the full base of the foot now this shoe also should be wide allowing for toe positioning of the first and the fifth metatarsals because anything that’s narrow or has a lot more flare or curve to it can create abnormal pressures on the bottom of the foot creating bunions bunionettes hammertoes or complete dysfunction so also with that we want a good center of axis of that sole base then as we look further into the shoe you have darker eva foam which is more dense it’s firmer so it is you can see it’s lower here so it has more of a rocker function so it allows contact good heel positioning for heel contact during your gait dorsiflexing the foot as you move forward and muscles start to innovate and to move that foot in that process of gait the gait cycle then when you get to mid midfoot pressures here this is where we see the majority of our issues in the pedorthic world because this is where you stay the longest on your foot during the gait cycle then you want if the if the shoe allows for the foot to move medially or laterally pronate or supinate then that delays the toe off process and that’s where the knee and the hip the pain is referred to that or the stresses so if the foot if the shoe is supportive in this area appropriately for your foot type and foot function then it guides you to toe off that late mid stance to propulsion and toe off and then that gastronimus fires off elevating that the calcaneus then moving the foot forward and you have a complete plantar flexion of that toe off so the foot is supported during the gait cycle and then you’re ready for the next heel contact when we look at specific shoes and let’s say that someone comes in with bunions you want to make sure that you appropriately select shoes that does not have stitching that goes right over that first metatarsal joint that could lead to more bursitis or inflammation of the bursa sac as well as a bunionette a relief also if they have hammer toes any type of corns that have developed on the dorsum or the top part of the toes due to an injury or loss of muscle strength within the foot they’re unable to toe off you’re eliminating pressure here but the technology of the shoe allows for your foot to move forward and actively engage those muscles so yes when you come to foot solutions those issues are addressed by a complete foot analysis also looking at your footwear the footwear you came in with that has actually led to some of your problems so the foot may be enclosed but if it’s not guided from heel to toe in the direction then you have a breakdown in the whole kinetic chain and injuries will occur prevention of these injuries is your best direction awesome well thank you so much for that miss donna well there you have it until next time you heard it here on the foot wellness chat powered by foot solutions thanks so much for joining us

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Symptoms, Causes and Common Treatments

Turf Toe

Symptoms

Pain and swelling under the big toe.

Causes

Occurs most often in sports that require quick direction changes, such as football, soccer or rugby.
Wearing athletic shoes with very flexible soles combined with cleats that grab the turf.
Wearing worn out shoes that allow too much freedom of motion in the forefoot area.

Turf toe occurs most often in sports that require quick direction changes, such as football, soccer or rugby. The name “turf toe” became a widespread description for this condition when many athletes became injured after playing games on artificial surfaces. An athlete’s shoe aggressively grips these artificial surfaces, often causing the body to lean forward and thus bending the toe upward. This kind of injury can also occur in the other toes but is most common in the big toe.

Common Treatments

It is best to avoid highly flexible shoes and instead wear shoes with a rigid sole. Additionally, shoes should be replaced regularly to avoid loss of support which can increase risk of a turf toe injury. Poor foot function such as over-pronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot and ankle which puts excessive pressure on the big toe joint) should be addressed using a custom arch support (orthotic) to minimize risk of injury. Treatment for turf toe and all grades of sprains includes the common RICE method: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Use of special rocker bottom shoes can dramatically aid in healing turf toe, limiting motion and pressure in the big toe joint, allowing it to heal. Use of a custom orthotic to support the big toe joint can also aid in healing, especially when poor foot function such as over-pronation is present. Gentle range of motion exercises should be instituted as pain allows, bending the toe gently within the limits of pain. As the pain decreases, the amount of motion increases.

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Turf Toe

What Shoe is Right for Me?

What Shoe is Right for Me? Transcript

What is Foot Solutions?

What is Foot Solutions? Transcript

Turf Toe

Symptoms

Causes

Common Treatments

Find your local store to speak to a Foot Solutions Expert

Foot Solutions Products