Whether competing against others or doing it for personal growth and fitness, runners committed to their sport are disciplined and driven as they strive for greatness! Competitive runners earn medals and trophies, but they can also develop injuries to their toenails. A toenail injury is viewed by some as a badge of honour. To others, it is a painful reminder of intense training and time on the road, trail or track.
Black, loose, or detached toenails can be an indication of kilometres of training by long distance runners. Toenails that are injured while running are coined “Runner’s toenails”. Caused by pressure and friction when toenails repeatedly and forcefully contact the side or tops of your shoes, this repetitive injury results in bleeding under the toenail plate, or a subungual hematoma in the medical world. The big toenail is the most common nail to be affected and once it’s injured, it will need time to heal. Let’s investigate Runner’s toenails and how you can treat and possibly prevent them!
What does Runner’s Toenail feel like?
- Pressure – if blood builds up underneath a toenail, pressure builds in the small space and causes pain, discomfort and throbbing.
- Blood blister – a blood blister can form under a nail when injury has occurred causing pain and discomfort.
- Ingrown toenail – an injury to a toenail can cause the side of the nail to press into or even puncture the skin at the sides; ill-fitting shoes are another cause of trauma leading to an ingrown toenail.
- Pain – depending on the extent of a toe injury, pain can vary; pain can be caused by increased pressure under the nail from blood that has accumulated or from a detached toenail.
- Loose toenail – if toenail injury is significant, a nail can become dislodged and start to fall off; it’s best to not pull on it or rip it off though as this can damage the tissue of the nail bed.
- Toenail damage – if damage is severe, the nail plate may end up growing in thicker or misshapen; if this happens, it may forever grow this way.
How do you treat Runner’s Toenail?
- Ease up on your training, especially if you’re experiencing pain; this will give your toenail a chance to heal.
- Always wear the correct shoe size; being properly fit for running shoes is crucial to reducing your risk of injury and trauma to your feet.
- Allow your nail to breathe by keeping the nail clear of nail polish; a bare toenail will heal better.
- If you have pooled blood underneath your nail causing pressure and discomfort, it may need to be drained by a Registered Chiropodist or Primary Care Professional; if minor, a build-up of blood will reabsorb into the body over time and not require drainage after all.
- If the injury is severe, the toenail may need to be safely removed by a Chiropodist, depending on the extent of damage and detachment.
- Keep your toenails trimmed to a healthy length.
Runner’s toenails are not just for runners!
Any activity or sport that involves kicking, quick movements or pivoting, gripping with the feet and toes or direct pressure on the tips of toes can result in a toenail injury. Soccer, tennis, pickle ball, squash, rock climbing and dancing are all activities that can put extra pressure on toenails.
Be aware of other causes of black toenails…
Not all black toenails are caused by running. A fungal infection of a toenail can cause discolouration and darkening of the nail plate. Additionally, melanoma, a form of skin cancer, can develop underneath the nail plate on a toe. This is a serious condition and should not be ignored. If you notice darkening on or under the toenail, it is best to seek medical advice as quickly as possible.
If you think you have a Runner’s toenail or you’re not sure, give your local BioPed a call today to find out how we can help! To find a BioPed Registered Chiropodist or Advanced Footcare Nurse, visit www.bioped.com/locations.
