Question: My son plays soccer and has developed severe soreness and swelling near the ball of his foot. So far we have treated it with ice after practices and games, but another parent suggested he might have “turf toe.” What is turf toe? What are the symptoms? What treatments are usually recommended?

Answer: Turf toe occurs with a sudden hyperextension of the big toe where it connects to the foot. Hyperextension means that it bends severely (i.e. toe pointing up). This injury causes the ligaments under the toe to stretch which causes pain. So when you say your son’s pain is near the ball of the foot that could certainly be turf toe, providing it’s under the big toe and not across the entire ball of the foot.

The condition is very common with running sports, such as football or soccer particularly when played on a hard surface like artificial turf. It can however also occur on grass or other surfaces.

Depending upon the severity of symptoms the treatment can vary from putting a firm steel or carbon plate in the shoe to immobilizing it completely in a boot or cast.

If you select the firm plate, it can be placed just along the inner part of the foot from the heel to end of big toe. The purpose of the plate is to prevent the toe from bending during walking and running.

The biggest problem, however, is that many athletes find it difficult to run if their big toe does not bend.

In order to make a definitive diagnosis, your son should see a sports medicine specialist for a complete examination and x-ray.

Although not as common there are two small bones under the big toe called “sesmoids” that can fracture. Even if this occurs the treatment is basically the same as for turf toe.

Vic Goradia, MD
Knee, Shoulder & Sports
Medicine Specialist
Go Orthopedics
www.GoOrtho.net