Broken toe and training.

**STORMCROW34** · 08-11-2008, 09:36

So I broke my big toe this weekend. I'm not even sure how it happened. I was at a friends house watching the UFC event and a friend of my friend decided he wanted to wrestle....right then, right there in the living room. About a half hour after the "wrestling match" was over I noticed it was sore and starting to swell up. So I went home and iced it up.

The next morning, I decided to go the clinic because it was purple and still swollen. After a four hour wait, a brief exam and x-ray, I was informed that it was broken. I asked the doctor at the clinic about training, jogging, etc. and he said to take it easy and keep it elevated and sent me on my way. Apparently, he was the only doctor on duty. The place was swamped, I wasn't in a very good mood and frankly, I just wanted to get the hell out of there, so I didn't press for details.

Any suggestions, experience or comments regarding training with a broken big toe would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

**Nick L.** · 08-11-2008, 10:00

ouchy!, I hope you got a good shot in.

**moogong** · 08-11-2008, 10:33

I have broken my toe twice during training. I pretty much just worked techniques that did not require slamming it against a target or risk getting it stepped on. I did keep it taped just in case an accident were to happen.

**TonyU** · 08-11-2008, 10:49

Rest and limit what you can do with that foot. I sympathize.
Back int he 80's I kicked a guy in the elbow during a drill. I immediately realized something was wrong. When I looked down my toe was pointing straight up. After slamming the foot down and popping it in place it swelled up like a grape fruit. All I could do was ice it when I got home and take it easy for awhile.
At times like this it's when you can take the time to just walk through certain techniques.
Get well soon.

**STORMCROW34** · 08-11-2008, 11:55

Originally Posted by Nick L.

ouchy!, I hope you got a good shot in.

He said "uncle!", compliments of kata katame and ude garami. But in the long run, obviously he got the best of me.

My biggest concern is because it's my big toe and it bears a lot of my weight, I'm worried that if I rush back to training too soon, it could cause long term problems.

BTW it's very awkward to walk around on the outside edge of my foot. I feel like I'm constantly on the verge of rolling my ankle. Don't take your big toes for granted people!

Thanks for the comments everyone.

**Abbax8** · 08-11-2008, 16:35

Walk on your heel, it will take the pressure off the toe. Use a cane if necessary.

Ice it and tape it.

Wear open toe shoes if possible.

Training is about what you can do without hurting yourself further.

Yeah, been there done that about a dozen times with different toes.

Peace

Dennis

**Jeff Burger** · 08-11-2008, 21:16

I have broken all my toes except my left big toe (my lucky toe).
I just tape the broken one to the one next to and go.

USO

**Mano** · 08-11-2008, 22:22

Has anyone had problems with reduced mobility? Years ago I broke my left big toe (outside training) so bad they put my foot in a cast. It doesn't bend up as well as the right big toe, and it's a nuisance in some situations.

**Jeff Burger** · 08-11-2008, 22:26

Yes, I cant get good front kick for on the right side.

**STORMCROW34** · 08-12-2008, 07:19

Originally Posted by Mano

Has anyone had problems with reduced mobility? Years ago I broke my left big toe (outside training) so bad they put my foot in a cast. It doesn't bend up as well as the right big toe, and it's a nuisance in some situations.

This is my primary concern. In hindsight, do you think there was anything you could have done to limit this problem? Thanks.

**TonyU** · 08-12-2008, 07:48

Originally Posted by STORMCROW34

This is my primary concern. In hindsight, do you think there was anything you could have done to limit this problem? Thanks.

When it heals and only when it's fully healed stretch it. I lost some flexibility in my big toe after the dislocation. I had to keep stretching it. It only affected me when I used to do ball of the foot front kicks. Now that I don't do those anymore it's a non-issue.

**Jeff Burger** · 08-12-2008, 07:52

Now that I don't do those anymore it's a non-issue

Not being able to throw with the ball was the best thing that ever happened to my front kick.

**STORMCROW34** · 08-19-2008, 07:40

You don't use the ball of the foot as the contact point for mae geri? I remember awhile back you guys were mentioning toe kicks in a seminar you attended. I think it was in Canada. Maybe at Chris Luttrell's dojo? How does that work? Target soft targets with the toes? Or hard targets also? Sounds like it would be painful on the part of the kickee.

The toe is coming along nicely. The swelling was comletely gone after about four days of iceing it up at night and the bruises are almost completely gone now. I can't wear my running shoes because they are too tight, so still no running, but I am able to put light pressure on it. Hopefully in a week (maybe two) it will be back to normal training.

**Jeff Burger** · 08-19-2008, 07:47

I use toe or heel.

You don't need to send your opponent across the room to hurt him.
May sound odd but I have hurt my toes and ankle doing ball but not toe.

**TonyU** · 08-19-2008, 07:52

Originally Posted by STORMCROW34

You don't use the ball of the foot for mae geri? I remember awhile back you guys were mentioning toe kicks in a seminar you taught attended. I think it was in Canada. Maybe at Chris Luttrell's dojo? How does that work? Target soft targets with the toes? Or hard targets also? Sounds like it would be painful on the part of the kickee.

The toe is coming along nicely. The swelling was comletely gone after about four days of iceing it up at night and the bruises are almost completely gone now. I can't wear my running shoes because they are too tight, so still no running, but I am able to put light pressure on it. Hopefully in a week (maybe two) it will be back to normal training.

Yes I covered toe kicks at a seminar in Canada.
The kick targets soft and vulnerable areas of the body, i.e., scrotum, hara (the area about 2 inches below the belly bottom), femoral nerve inside the thighs.
It takes a long time to condition not only the toes but ones own self preservation about using them. I've actually have had less kick related injuries since utilizing the tsumasaki-geri.

**Jeff Burger** · 08-19-2008, 08:04

One way I practice it is on a car tire tube around a heavy bag.

You can use the car tire tube for finger jabs, upper cuts and as pictured clinching.

tire.jpg

**STORMCROW34** · 08-19-2008, 08:14

What side of the toes do you contact with? Do you squeeze them together or flex them?

Maybe this topic should be split off to a toe kicks thread?

**Jeff Burger** · 08-19-2008, 08:17

With the tip similar to a spearhand.
There are a few different ways I have seen for "folding" the toes for extra support.

**STORMCROW34** · 09-01-2008, 20:18

So far, so good with the toe. I've been taping it up as suggested and I trained Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday without any problems at almost 100%. The only thing I am not doing yet is right sided kicks and left sided ratchet falls. Thanks again everyone.