Personal injury in sport frequently occurs which may be a considerable problem especially in professional competitive sports since it has effects on the ability to play. One particular fairly frequent injury is what is labeled turf toe. It is an acute injury to the big toe joint in the foot. This injury is a bit more likely in football and field sports activities associated with the man-made playing surfaces. This is just how it got its term of ‘turf toe’. The particular injury is one of a sprain or tear of the ligaments below the great toe or hallux joint which has a pressure injury to the cartilage material inside the big toe joint. The injury is frequently as a result of hyperextension of joint when the foot is in a slightly dorsiflexed posture. This is usually a position that players finish up in a tackling situation in the foot ball competitive sports. Because this is an acute injury the the signs of turf toe are an immediate onset. The first acute signs and symptoms of turf toe consist of pain at the great toe or hallux joint with swelling and discoloration. You will have a restricted range of motion from the great toe and it will hurt to bend. The pain sensation will always be more intense when walking as well as additional weight-bearing exercises. Detecting a turf toe is usually using a physical assessment with the attending doctor with an analysis with the symptoms. Generally, the way that the damage happened is also most likely to help make the diagnosis. Imaging through X-rays or MRI scans could be used to eliminate other potential causes and to evaluate the extent of the ligament destruction in the injury.
Turf toe is usually given a level dependant upon the severity of the damage that may be used to direct therapy. A grade 1 injury is simply a strain of the plantar plate underneath the joint. A grade 2 is a incomplete split in the plantar plate and the grade 3 turf toe injury is a complete tear in the plantar plate. The treatment of turf toe will depend on the degree of the tissue injury in accordance with that grading. All cases will need an initial rest along with ice applications and elevation together with anti-inflammatory drugs. Immobilization is important and exactly how much depends on the grading. When it is a slight grade 1 then a stiff soled footwear. A carbon fibre plate inset are useful to make the shoe a lot more rigid. In the event the injury is more extreme, a cast or walking shoe may be needed for up to 4 weeks or maybe more to offer the immobilization. When the symptoms start to improve, slow intensifying motion and physical exercises are usually began with the quantity and intensity steadily improved over time. Strapping may be needed to limit the movement with the joint in the course of the early periods of the return to sports activity. Shoes with a more stiff sole or with a firm carbon fiber insert may be used. Occasionally a cortisone injection is done. If the initial damage would be a severe grade 3 or the Turf toe injury is not getting better, then there are several surgical approaches which they can use.