Happy days. A stiff forefoot plate will also prevent the 1st MTPJ from moving up and down as much. These are built into certain athletic shoes like some of the Nike range. The Nike Alphafly is a special shoe used by Eliud Kipchoge to break the 2 hour marathon barrier that has 3 carbon fibre plates. Sports tape or rigid strapping tape can be a lifesaving treatment option for those with big toe pain. You can use the tape to limit movement in any direction to settle a painful 1st MTPJ.
Taping a sprained toe with a large range of motion will give you immediate relief. The simplest application is to apply some tape above and below the joint as anchors.
Next, join the two anchors to each other with some more tape moving the toe in the direction of the tape being applied. With this technique we are replicating the connective tissue that would usually stabilise the big toe joint on the inside. As you can see above, the first step of strapping the big toe is to apply anchor pieces of tape just above and below the 1st MTPJ margin. The second step is to start at the distal anchor the one on the toe and then stick the tape down along the toe until you reach the proximal anchor the one on the foot.
This step is important. For example, for the top piece of tape, bend the toe up slightly. For the bottom piece of tape, bend it down a little. Applying strapping tape to the big toe joint like this will immediately limit the amount of work done by the toe, and your pain will decrease.
Orthotics are amazing devices that you can use to manipulate the load on the foot. You can move pressure and forces from sore areas onto not-sore areas. A podiatrist is the best person to see to assess what your exact needs are and what type of orthotic will work best for you. First, a prefabricated foot orthotic can often be used to reduce pain at the 1st MTPJ by applying a force directly under the joint just before the big toe joint.
This is a nifty way of limiting movement in the 1st MTPJ without increase the pressure underneath the joint. You can also use a custom orthotic to much more specifically reduce the load on the big toe.
By varying the geometry of the device you can increase the work done by other toes and joints like the midfoot or the ankle. When writing this piece I wanted to show just what an amazing, hard working and overlooked joint the 1st MTPJ is.
If you injure your toe closest to the big toe, tape it to the middle toe. For your fingers, you can use trial and error to decide which finger to tape the injured finger to. Taping your ring finger to your middle finger may be more stable, but taping it to your pinky finger will allow you to have more mobility. The same goes for your middle finger when deciding if you want to tape it to your index finger or your ring finger. Similar to your big toe, you should avoid buddy taping your thumb, but you can tape it on its own to help stabilize it.
The healthy digit works as a splint to support the injured digit and keep it in the correct position, protecting it from further injury. Keeping the injured finger or toe stable helps to prevent any unnecessary movements, and reduces inflammation. Together, these factors help to promote a speedy recovery. Pay attention to how your body is healing to make sure your symptoms are improving.
Remove the tape if any of your symptoms get worse after taping. Be sure the tape is loose enough to promote healthy circulation.
Taping has the potential to irritate skin. This can occur where the tape touches your skin and in between the affected digits. Check your skin each time you change the tape and keep an eye out for any redness, swelling, or discharge.
Taping injured skin has the potential to cause infections. Skin necrosis, or the death of tissue, is also possible. Always talk to your doctor if you have any questions or if your injury appears to be getting worse.
Also, keep the tape clean and dry. You will likely have to change it daily until your toe is feeling better. Buddy taping works great, but there may be something more we can do.
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