How Soon Can You Play Soccer After Breaking a Toe?
Broken toes are common injuries for soccer players, who consistently put excessive strain on their feet. Although fractured toes usually heal well, they must be treated properly. If done so, soccer players can usually return to play within two to six weeks.
Soccer (Image: ColorBlind Images LLC/Blend Images/Getty Images)Broken Toe
A broken toe occurs when one of your toe bones, known as phalanges, fractures. There are two types of bone fractures: traumatic and stress. Traumatic fractures are the result of a direct blow or impact, such as dropping something on your foot or stubbing your toe. Stress fractures are small, hairline breaks that develop from repetitive stress being placed on the bone. Depending on the type of fracture you suffer, symptoms can include pain when walking and/or resting, swelling, bruising and a crooked or abnormal appearance of your toe.
Treatment
According to the Mayo Clinic, a broken toe must be immobilized to allow its ends to knit back together. Immobilization can be done several ways. Buddy taping, in which your broken toe is taped to its neighboring toe, is commonly done on the smaller toes. Your doctor may also give you a hard-bottomed shoe that can prevent your toe from flexing. If the toe fragments will not stay together, you may need to wear a cast. Pain from a broken toe can usually be relieved with over-the-counter medication. With more severe breaks, your doctor can prescribe stronger medicine.
Prognosis
Most broken toes heal fine, according to the Mayo Clinic. The tape, shoe or cast usually will be needed for 2 to 4 weeks. Soccer players are susceptible to both types of toe fractures due to the amount of pressure put on their feet and the likelihood of getting kicked or stepped on. Because of this, you want to make sure that the bone is completely healed before returning to play. It may take up to six weeks for the bone to fully heal. Get your doctor's permission before playing again.
Prevention
Most broken toes cannot be prevented. However, occasionally, especially with stress fractures, measures can be taken to reduce the risk of suffering a broken toe. For starters, wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes or cleats. Your footwear should have cushioning and arch support. Increase your amount of exercise and running gradually. This will help avoid putting too much stress on your bones before they are strong enough to handle it.
