Physiopedia:Runner's Toe

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Introduction

While running, the feet, no doubt, can be the most injured body part. This would probably occur with overtraining, disregarding any pain, or not practicing self-care/preventative care. Runner's toe can be described as toenail damage, and would occur when the toe is rubbing against the front of the shoe, especially if the shoe is too small, narrow, or too large and there is space in front for the foot and toes to move. This would generally occur when running downhill.

What is Runner's Toe

Runner's toe is a non-severe injury that can most commonly occur to your big toe, due to its bigger size, or really any of the toes. It can be described as the blackening of your toenail when your toe repeatedly hits and rubs against your shoe, causing stress on the toenail. This would lead to bleeding under the toenail, which would give it a black appearance. Loss of the toenail can also be experienced by the nail being pushed down into the nailbed, causing it to be bruised and inflamed, thus breaking off.

Runner's toe can be known as:

• Runner's Toenail
• Jogger' Toenail
• Tennis Toe
• Subungual Hematoma

Other Causes

A black toenail can also be caused y

Other Activities

You can also experience Runner's Toe or such symptoms in other activities, including:

• Rock Climbing
• Soccer
• Squash
• Racquetball
• Tennis

Rock Climber often wear tight shoes, and they are seen to stick their foot/feet in holes, for support and elevation. Depending on the size and placement, this can cause Runner' Toe.

With Soccer players, repeatedly kicking the ball can cause stress to you toenail. This would lead to blood leaking from the vessels directly underneath. This can also be caused by kicking the ball too hard with the top of your toe. Soccer players most commonly experience Runner's Toe on their first and second toe.

Tennis and Squash players can result with damage to their toenail from the continuous moving, shuffling, pivoting, changing directions, and thrusting/rubbing against their shoe, which will cause stress to their toe.

Symptoms of Runner's Toe

Runner's Toe doesn't occur after a single exposure to stress, but rather a repeated prolonged exposure of stress to the toenail from your shoe.

Symptoms that may be experienced include:

• Dark red toenail, which would be acute/new damage
• Black toenail, which would be chronic and prolonged/older damage
• Loose toenail
• Pain
• Blood blisters
• Pressure under the toenail
• Loss of the toenail, from pressure causing the toenail to lift off the nailbed
• Trouble walking
• Trouble wearing shoes

Prevalence of Runner's Foot

This can be common in runners training for long distance races.

Gender differences -

Treatment

If you notice symptoms, but your toe and nail don't hurt, there may not be anything you need to do. THe nail and nailbed may fall off on its own, and will grow back.

However, if you do experience pain, and/or you have trouble walking, it is best to see your doctor to rule out any broken toes or such issues.

With the presence of Runner's Toe, a procedure known as Nail Trephination will be carried out.

Nail Trephination is when the pooled blood is drained, by drilling a small hole in the nail with a heated needle or carbon dioxide laser. As a result of the blood collection, the nail may fall off after treatment. The nail may fall off anyhow, but it will grow back. If there was damage to the nail bd, it may be deformed as well.

Prevention

Here are some tips to prevents foot injuries, specially Runner's Toe:

Choose proper fitting running shoes.

Running shoes should be chosen according to running style, running dynamics, and even running terrain. Youd want to make sure your shoes are fitting properly, so they are snug, with enough space in front for your toes. If you have flat feet, you'd wan to make sure your shoes are wider to support the middle arch.

If you have a high arch, you'd want ot make sure yo have special adjustments or orthotics on your shoes as well.

Check out (the shoe page on PP)

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