Turf Toe – injury to the big toe joint

By Katrina Challis|2025-02-25T07:50:25+00:00April 23rd, 2023|

Winter sports season has arrived whether it be AFL, soccer, netball or many others. Turf toe is a foot injury affecting the big toe joint that is commonly associated with these sports and other activities.

What is Turf Toe?

A strange name yes, but turf toe can be a debilitating injury to the big toe (1^st metatarsophalangeal joint). Turf toe is a sprain of the ligament and joint capsule in the big toe. It usually occurs when the big toe joint is forcibly hyperextended (turned upwards) beyond its usual range of motion causing trauma to the ligament and joint capsule of the big toe joint. Turf toe often occurs in sports such as AFL football, soccer, rugby, netball and running.

The injury is more commonly reported in athletes playing on artificial turf hence the term ‘turf toe’ however it can occur in many other sports and activities too.

Causes of Turf Toe

Turf toe usually occurs when the big toe is suddenly hyperextended beyond its normal range. It will often cause a sprain or a tear of the ligament and joint capsule supporting the toe. An example of this is if you fall forward towards the ground but your foot stays flat on the ground.

Repetitive hyperextension of the big toe over time can also cause the eventual sprain of the ligament. Wearing flat, flexible or unsupportive shoes is another common cause of Turf Toe.

What are the symptoms of Turf Toe?

Symptoms of turf toe can vary depending on the severity of the injury. They include:

Swelling and pain of the big toe joint
Limited joint range of motion (stiffness)
Pain with extension (bending toe upwards)
If the cause is related to direct trauma then the symptoms will be acute and it may be hard to load/walk on the joint.
If the cause is from repetitive movement then the onset of symptoms may slowly increase over time.

How is Turf Toe treated?

Firstly, a diagnosis must be made as many other conditions can also affect the big toe joint. At Melbourne Podiatrists and Orthotics our experienced podiatrists will do a thorough assessment and diagnosis to determine the severity of condition. Depending on the severity of the injury further imaging such as an x-ray or ultrasound may be required to determine the grade of the injury.

Treatment varies depending on severity of the condition and can include:

Rest to relieve pain and reduce associated inflammation.
Strapping to immobilise and support the injured toe.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Appropriate stiff soled and supportive footwear to protect and support the affected foot.
In more severe cases a CAM walker may be required to offload the joint and allow healing.
In some cases an orthotic device may be used to either support or help immobilise the joint.