# What exactly is Turf Toe?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-turf-toe/150426>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 23, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-turf-toe/150426 "2003-01-23T13:40:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-turf-toe/150426/1 "2003-01-23T13:40:53Z")

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I tried a search on this in General Questions, but came up empty.

Obviously it is an afflicaton that Football players suffer (and other athletes, too?) who play on artificial turf - but was is it? A badly stubbed toe, since turf is basically a thin layer of plastic over concrete? Is it a rash or something because the turf is unyielding (but wouldn’t wearing a shoe protect you from that?). Is the skin broken somehow?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide…

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**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-turf-toe/150426/2 "2003-01-23T14:46:00Z")

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Try a Google search for “Turf Toe”. Many sports injury sites have descriptions, such as [this one](http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/foot/turftoe.htm).

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-turf-toe/150426/3 "2003-01-23T14:58:10Z")

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D’oh! I knew I should’ve checked Google. Thanks, **raygirvan**!