Turf Toe Requires Special Protection

Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint that is often the result of injury during a sport. Most commonly, it happens to football players when they push off hard to start running or to soccer players when they come to an abrupt halt and their toe sticks while their body continues forward. This is particularly likely to occur when playing on fake turf, hence the name turf toe.

At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, however, our Podiatrist knows that turf toe is also a condition that can affect more casual athletes like those who run or speed walk for fitness, do gymnastics or any activity that involves repeatedly pushing off with your big toe.

Signs of Turf Toe

Symptoms of turf toe include the following:

  • Pain at the base of the big toe
  • Swelling at the joint
  • Limited range of motion and movement of the joint

If turf toe is the result of repetitive actions, the symptoms may begin slowly and gradually get worse over time. In cases where turf toe is caused by a sudden, wrenching injury, the signs will appear at once and continue to get worse over a 24-hour period.

Dr. Jill to the Rescue

One reason turf toe happens is that patients are wearing shoes that are too flexible and don’t provide adequate support for the activity they are doing. We offer a few products that can greatly decrease the risk of turf toe.

Carbon Stabilizer Plates are inserts that are used to stiffen the sole of your shoe and limit the range of motion of the forefoot to help decrease the flexibility of the shoe. In so doing, they help prevent big toe sprains. The plates are extremely thin—only 1/8” thick—and comfortable to wear. Carbon Stabilizer Plates are latex free and available in men’s sizes 6-15 and women’s sizes 5-12.

Our Spring Steel Insoles are also ideal for preventing Turf Toe and other foot problems requiring a semi-rigid foot bed. We offer Full Spring Steel Insoles as well as Half Spring Steel Insoles and both products are available in sizes for men and women.

In addition, our Moleskin Turf Toe/Bunion Straps are another great product we offer that can also help decrease the risk of Turf Toe.

To see all of the products we make to help with various podiatric conditions, shop our online catalog or visit our Deerfield Beach, FL store. Need more information? Contact us today by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).

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