Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders was limited to 20 yards on 7 carries in Sunday’s game. This under performance was most likely due to his recent turf toe injury. Turf toe is the hyperextension of the big toe joint, called the first metatarsal phalangeal joint (MPJ). The name was derived from the higher incidence of the injury on artificial turf. The combination of flexible shoes and cleats can cause the shoe to grab the turf, resulting in hyperextension of the 1st MPJ. This causes a tear or rupture of the capsule and ligaments on the bottom of the big toe joint. A more common mechanism, especially in football, is when a player falls back on the calf of his own leg, or another player’s leg, while the ankle is dorsiflexed and the big toe joint is extended, as seen in the picture above. Continue Reading »
Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders was limited to 20 yards on 7 carries in Sunday’s game. This under performance was most likely due to his recent turf toe injury. Turf toe is the hyperextension of the big toe joint, called the first metatarsal phalangeal joint (MPJ). The name was derived from the higher incidence of the injury on artificial turf. The combination of flexible shoes and cleats can cause the shoe to grab the turf, resulting in hyperextension of the 1st MPJ. This causes a tear or rupture of the capsule and ligaments on the bottom of the big toe joint. A more common mechanism, especially in football, is when a player falls back on the calf of his own leg, or another player’s leg, while the ankle is dorsiflexed and the big toe joint is extended, as seen in the picture above. Continue Reading »