Injury Report: Turf Toe

Turf toe is a strain, partial tear, or full tear in the area around a toe joint (commonly the big toe), so named for pro football players who are often afflicted with this injury. In football, it happens when the knee is down and the toes are bent on the ground. One or more players fall on a player's calf, thus hyper-extending the toe joint.

This has been a chronic nagging injury for me, first happening in Boston while climbing overhangings. On small holds, you can only put your big toe on a jib or hole, while propelling yourself upward.

The tenderness comes and goes, but lately it's been hurting from baseball. I changed my swinging leg mechanics to pivot on my right foot toes, then explode towards first base on contact. My cheap cleats are, no doubt, way too soft for everyday playing.

Climbers and baseball players, who have almost nothing in common, but often suffer the same injuries. So far I've had tennis and golf elbows, hammer finger, and now turf toe.

Remedies:
* 6-8 weeks of rest
* Ice or alternating hot/cold treatments
* Buddy taping toes together
* No weight for severe injuries

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