Stub, bang, bend, snag or crush! Our toes are exposed and out there, making them easy targets for injury. If you injure a toe, there is something you can do at home to quicken healing…buddy taping. Buddy taping involves taping an injured toe to an adjacent toe, and if done properly, it can effectively stabilize the toe allowing it to heal.
A toe injury occurs when there is harm, disruption, or trauma to its anatomy. The anatomy of a toe includes bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, fat and skin. Trauma can cause damage to one or all of these structures.
All injuries require rest and protection. A toe injury typically takes 2-6 weeks to heal but this depends on the extent of trauma and injury.
How do you know if your toe injury is a bad one?
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Colour change/Bruising
- Different position
Tips for buddy taping:
Little toes usually heal quickly if taped to the toe beside it but buddy taping should only be used on a minor injury involving a little toe.
- Use zinc oxide or athletic tape
- Place a piece of gauze or cotton baton between the toes beforehand for padding
- Do not apply tape to broken skin
- Start taping at the base of the toe and progress towards the end
- Apply tape snug enough to support the toes against each other
- After taping, press on the tip of your toes for a few seconds and then release. Colour should return to normal. It’s an important step to ensure they’re not taped too tightly.
- Remove taping when at rest
It is best to seek medical attention if you’ve injured your big toe. It may require casting, more robust splinting, reduction or even surgery.
Buddy taping can help with healing, but it’s also important to take a look at the shoes you’re wearing. Footwear that’s flimsy and soft under foot, or bends too easily, does not provide enough support and protection for injured toes and our feet in general. It is crucial to wear supportive footwear inside and outside. Additionally, the toe box of a shoe should be wide and deep enough to accommodate any swelling that has developed due to an injury.
Contact your primary care provider or your BioPed lower limb clinician if you have any of the following:
- An open wound or bleeding
- A crooked or bent toe
- Numbness or tingling
- Sudden increase in pain or swelling
- Fever or chills
- Significant bruising
Each of these signs and symptoms indicate a more serious issue and requires immediate medical attention. If your toe isn’t showing signs of healing 1-2 weeks after the injury occurred, follow up with your primary care provider or your BioPed lower limb clinician. You may need further investigative tests to determine the best next steps. We will help alleviate your foot pain with high integrity solutions to empower you to do more in life!
