Tennis toe is caused by sudden stopping motions that cause the big toe to hit the edge of a shoe, and is common in sports like football, soccer, and basketball. It is most common in people over 35 and can be prevented by cutting toenails and wearing properly fitting shoes. Treatment depends on severity.
Tennis toe, sometimes incorrectly called turf toe, occurs due to sudden stopping motions that cause the big toe to smack into the edge of a shoe. While it is common in tennis, it can also be found in other sports where a sudden stop occurs, including football, soccer, basketball, and other sports played primarily with the feet on a hard or flat surface. Tennis toe is seen most often in people over the age of 35 and occurs more often on synthetic surfaces than natural ones.
When the big toe constantly jams against the edge of the shoe, the trauma usually affects the toenail first. It often happens that the toenail does enough damage to create bleeding under the nail bed, clinically referred to as a subungual hematoma. Although the big toe, the big toe closest to the midline of the body on both feet, primarily falls victim to tennis toe, any other toe can also fall prey to the movements that cause the problem. It is rare, however, for a toe other than the big toe and second toe to be affected.
There are many things that can be done to prevent tennis toe. The first thing to do is check the length of the toenail. It is recommended to cut the nails so that they do not go beyond the edge of the toe. In many cases, this can stop the problem.
Another problem that can cause tennis toe is shoes that are too tight or too loose, which create too much room for the toe to move. Often this can be remedied by tightening the shoes or simply buying new ones. It may also help to attach the problem toe to the toe next to it.
Although tennis toe is often referred to as turf toe, it is not an accurate description. Turf toe is caused by similar movements, but refers to damage to the tendons of the toe rather than the nail. It does not usually cause bleeding like tennis toe, although both conditions can occur at the same time.
Treatment for tennis toe depends on the severity. If there is only slight damage and little or no bleeding, antiseptic and a bandage may be applied to prevent infection and aid healing. If there is a lot of bleeding or if your toe is swollen and infected, you should see a doctor.
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