What is turf toe?

Turf toe refers specifically to a hyperextension injury of the great toe, which typically occurs when the toe is forced upward beyond its normal range of motion. This injury commonly arises in sports that involve running on hard surfaces, such as artificial turf, where players may push off forcefully and the toe is overstretched.

The hyperextension can lead to damage of the ligaments that support the joint at the base of the toe, resulting in pain, swelling, and limited mobility. The symptoms often include tenderness in the joint, difficulty in walking, and sometimes bruising.

Understanding this definition is critical for the management and treatment of the injury, as it differs from other conditions. For example, a fracture of the foot would involve bone damage, and a muscle strain refers to injury to muscle fibers, neither of which accurately describes turf toe. Similarly, tendonitis typically involves inflammation of tendons and would not encompass the specific ligamentous injury described in turf toe.