In a sport like tennis that demands quick stops and starts, extra strain is placed on the toes. Each hard stop and start can jam toes against the inside of shoes and cause bruising or other irritations. Wearing appropriately sized footwear and cushioned socks can prevent many injuries to the toes of tennis players.
Rest, Ice and Elevation
Rest your toe injury for at least three days. During that time, ice your toe twice a day for 15 minutes. Whenever possible, ice while the toe is elevated. These steps will decrease swelling and promote healing.
Wear Appropriately Sized Footwear
Make sure your tennis shoes are the appropriate size for your foot. Shoes that are too big or too small can cause jamming of the toes, resulting in swelling. There should be at least a finger width or half-inch of room between your big toe and the end of the shoe. If there is more, your foot will slide around during play, possibly impacting the front of the shoe. If there is too little room, your toe constantly will be pressing and jamming against the front of the shoe, causing injury.
Consider Shoe Width
If your pinkie toe is being irritated by the shoe, there is a good chance you are wearing shoes too narrow for your foot shape. Brands like Prince, K-Swiss, and New Balance generally offer a wider fit. Be on the lookout for shoes that are wide in the toe-box. Shoes with a wide toe-box will give your little toe plenty of room laterally, reducing the chance of further bruising or injury. Narrow fitting toe-boxes will cramp your toes and likely cause further injury of the toe.
Wear Thicker Socks
To protect your toes from impacts inside the shoe, wear thick, cushioned socks. These socks will provide padding for your toes, lessening bruising and swelling. Make sure your shoes are wide enough to hold thicker socks without pinching the foot. Some professional players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal even wear two pairs of socks to protect their toes from the grind of moving on a tennis court.
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