Causes
A toe sprain is caused by trauma from things like:
- Stubbing the toe into an object when walking barefoot or while wearing sandals
- Stopping quickly when running, causing a toe to jam into the end of the shoe
- Landing awkwardly from a jump, causing a toe to jam into the end of the shoe
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
- Playing sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, and track
- Dancing
- Wearing the wrong footwear for an activity
Symptoms
Problems may be:
- Pain and tenderness in the toe
- Pain when moving the toe
- Swelling and bruising
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will also be asked how you hurt your toe. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on your toe.
It can be hard to tell a toe sprain from a fracture or dislocation. Pictures of the foot may be taken. This can be done with:
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the injury and how severe it is. The goal of treatment is to ease pain and improve movement. Choices are:
- Supportive care, such as rest, ice, a compression bandage, and raising the foot to ease pain and swelling
- Over the counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen
- A stiff shoe to keep the toe still as it heals
- Physical therapy to strengthen the toe and improve movement
Prevention
Most toe sprains are due to accidents. They cannot always be prevented. The risk may be lowered by wearing the right athletic shoes for activities.
Causes
A toe sprain is caused by trauma from things like:
- Stubbing the toe into an object when walking barefoot or while wearing sandals
- Stopping quickly when running, causing a toe to jam into the end of the shoe
- Landing awkwardly from a jump, causing a toe to jam into the end of the shoe
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
- Playing sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, and track
- Dancing
- Wearing the wrong footwear for an activity
Symptoms
Problems may be:
- Pain and tenderness in the toe
- Pain when moving the toe
- Swelling and bruising
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will also be asked how you hurt your toe. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on your toe.
It can be hard to tell a toe sprain from a fracture or dislocation. Pictures of the foot may be taken. This can be done with:
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the injury and how severe it is. The goal of treatment is to ease pain and improve movement. Choices are:
- Supportive care, such as rest, ice, a compression bandage, and raising the foot to ease pain and swelling
- Over the counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen
- A stiff shoe to keep the toe still as it heals
- Physical therapy to strengthen the toe and improve movement
Prevention
Most toe sprains are due to accidents. They cannot always be prevented. The risk may be lowered by wearing the right athletic shoes for activities.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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