Sharp Toe Pain When Stretching & Poking

Getting in shape can be challenging from a mental standpoint, but additional pain can make exercise almost seem impossible. Because the human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments, attempting to diagnose what could be causing sharp toe pain and poking while stretching can be difficult. There are quite a few ailments that can impact your feet and toes, and many have simple treatments. But if pain persists, consult a podiatrist.

  1. Morton’s Neuroma

    • If your toe pain is more of a tingling sensation between your toes in addition to toe pain, there is a chance you could be experiencing Morton’s neuroma. Morton’s neuroma, a condition more common in women than men, results from an injury of the nerve in between the toes. When these nerves are damaged, they affect how you may hold your foot. Morton’s neuroma has been connected to instances of unusually high arches, flat feet and other foot conditions such as bunions and hammer toes. Treatment for Morton’s neuroma usually includes a change of the kind of footwear, nerve blocking agents and other means of working to reshape the foot with shoe inserts and other supports.

    Turf Toe

    • If you exercise on hard surfaces and are experiencing toe pain while stretching, you may be suffering from a condition that has been nicknamed “turf toe.” Turf toe occurs when there is slight hyperextension of the toes from frequent pushing against the foot from a starting position or an abrupt change in direction. This frequent pushing of these toes upwards in an attempt to get some propulsion from the starting line can lead to damage in the MTP joint. The reason this condition is nicknamed “turf toe” is because it occurs more frequently in those running on artificial turf which has much less give than real dirt or grass. Treatment of turf toe mainly includes rest and the application of ice to reduce swelling.

    Plantar Fasciitis

    • For a pain that seems to start in the heel and work its way down towards the toes, the culprit may be plantar fasciitis. While this condition is actually a straining of the tendon that runs down the bottom of the foot from the heel bone, the pain that results can often be felt throughout the foot. If you notice the pain starting from the heel, plantar fasciitis can very well be to blame for any other foot pain. Treatment of plantar fasciitis includes some rest of the foot, ice to reduce inflammation as well as prescribed exercises to help reduce the future chance of strain on the foot.

    Hammer Toe

    • More common among women yet not totally foreign to men or even children is a condition that causes great toe pain: the hammer toe. Hammer toe is a condition in which the end joint of a toe begins to point downward. Wearing high heels or ill-fitting shoes usually causes this pushing of the joint downward. These shoes apply pressure to the joint enough to make the entire toe point downward in a very uncomfortable position. Treatment includes wearing the correct size shoe -- a wide-toed shoe -- which will reduce pressure on the downward facing toe.