Runner's toe is one of the most common injuries that happen to runners. The condition affects the first metatarsophalangeal joint, it is very painful and makes it impossible to continue training. What are the causes of a finger injury and how to deal with it?
Runner's toe - what is it?
This fairly common term is a foot injury, or more precisely - the first intraosseous-phalangeal joint. The disease, which is acute, arises as a result of the deepening of the stiffness of this joint. How does this injury arise? The "runner's toe" usually reaches people who expose their feet to excessive bending and joint loads.
So it is not only an injury of runners, but also, for example, footballers or rugby players training on an artificial surface. In this particular condition, there is excessive dorsal or plantar flexion on a firm surface. As a result of too much bending of the joint, the plantar part of the capsule and ligament may be damaged, and in extreme cases - even a fracture of the metatarsal bones or the dorsal part of the phalanx.
Runner's toe - reasons
The cause of the injury is excessive flexing and thus stress on the intraosseus-phalangeal joint. This can happen from some acute injury to the foot that damages the first joint. The disease may also be the result of previous microtraumas or pathologies within the joint, e.g. aseptic necrosis, spasms of the toe flexors. It can also be the result of degenerative changes.
The easiest way to get injured is on a hard surface, e.g. on an artificial surface, the so-called turf (hence the second name of the injury - turf toe). The blame for its occurrence may also be caused by inappropriate sports shoes that do not stabilize the foot well.
Runner's toe - symptoms
The most noticeable symptom of an injury is pain at the base of the big toe. Pain worsens when weight is transferred to the affected leg. In addition to soreness, there may be redness or swelling, and even a subcutaneous hematoma. You may feel uncomfortable stiffness in the joint that prevents the foot from fully dorsiflexion.
In the event of an injury, degenerative or even degenerative bone growths may appear on the dorsal side of the bonemetatarsus.
Damage can take three degrees:
1st degree of sprain(slight pain, slight limitation of foot movement, minimal swelling),
2nd degree sprain(extensive pain, hematoma and greater swelling, limp on the leg),
3rd degree of sprain(extensive tenderness around the entire damaged joint, great soreness, large swelling and hematoma, inability to walk normally).
Runner's toe - how to prevent injury?
Since the risk of injury is high, it is worth countering it - especially if we have had it in the past. The best way is to partially stiffen the dorsiflexion and plantar metatarsophalangeal joints. Taping or an orthosis can be used for this. Special inserts made of resilient steel are also useful.
When practicing sports that put you at risk of a turf toe, you should also invest in good foot-stabilizing shoes.
It is also necessary to warm up your feet before starting each workout.
If the first symptoms of an injury appear, they must not be ignored, because an untreated runner's toe may lead to degeneration.
Runner's toe - treatment
Injury can be detected with an X-ray of the foot or an MRI, which will give an accurate picture of the injury. Treatment is initially conservative. The patient is recommended cryotherapy and plenty of rest.
If there is degree 1 injury, it is possible to do lighter exercises. The patient then undergoes rehabilitation. The treatment is supported by taping and finger separation. A 1st degree injury gives you a chance to quickly return to sports.
In the case of a 2nd degree injury, you must take a break from sports activity for about 2 weeks. At this stage, it is recommended to rehabilitate and stiffen the joint.
If a 3rd degree injury has occurred, the patient must first use crutches to avoid straining the foot. Surgery is required when there is a risk of bone or cartilage dislodging. In this most advanced case, it may take up to 8 weeks for the patient to return to sports, and in some cases may end his sports career.
Important! The basis for returning to exercise after a foot injury is the lack of pain associated with activity.