There are numerous common foot problems associated with the big toe, which can be especially problematic for athletes, including runners. According to a November 2007 article in "Running Times" magazine, during forward motion, the big toe bears twice the weight of the other toes, and the maximum force across the joint is 40 to 60 percent of the body weight. Common foot problems associated with the big toe include bunions, turf toe and podagra.
Bunions
According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, a bunion is a bump on the side of the big toe. However, bunions, which are a progressive disorder, are more than just a bump on the side of the big toe; the bump is a structural anomaly that reflects significant changes and deformities in the bones and joints of the forefoot. With bunions, the big toe deviates inward, toward the other toes. The soft tissues that overlie the bony prominence at the base of the big toe, which often is tender, may swell and increase the size of the bump. In some cases, the big toe may deviate so much from its normal anatomical position, in line with the inside edge of the foot, that it crosses under the second toe. Those with bunions may benefit from wearing shoes that are flat and wide in the toe box and that possess flexible soles. A toe-spacing product, especially a toe spacer between the first and second toe, will help reapproximate the big toe to its normal anatomical position and alleviate bunion-related pain or discomfort.
Turf Toe
The Sports Injury Clinic website states that turf toe---damage to the ligaments on the big toe's underside---occurs when the toe is forcefully bent upward. Along with the ligamentous damage sustained with turf toe, the surfaces of the nearby bones can be damaged too. The condition's name, turf toe, arose from the significant number of athletes who experienced the injury while playing on artificial surfaces. In most cases, the athlete's shoe gets snagged on the surface and causes the athlete to move or tumble forward, which results in big toe hyperextension. Predisposing factors to turf toe include lax ankle and foot ligaments associated with above-average joint range of motion. Turf toe injuries are more common in certain sports, such as martial arts, football, rugby, wrestling and soccer. Individuals who have experienced an injury they suspect might be turf toe, and who are unable to walk without assistance, should consider X-rays to screen for fracture.
Podagra
According to the National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics, gout is a metabolic condition that's caused by increased levels of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid crystallizes and is deposited in joints, tendons and the surrounding tissue. Gout is characterized by periodic bouts of acute inflammatory arthritis, which result in a red, warm and swollen joint that's tender to the touch. Although any joint may be affected, the big toe's metatarsophalangeal, or MTP, joint is the most common location for gout. When it involves the big toe, gout is known as podagra. Gout and podagra typically manifest in males over the age of 50, frequently occurring at night but sometimes several hours after a minor trauma. Joint aspiration will show uric acid crystals, which confirms the diagnosis and rules out other possible conditions, such as infection. Repeated bouts of podagra may cause significant damage to the MTP joint of the big toe.
