Some people may neglect treating a tear in the foot and believe that the condition may recover on its own with just rest. This is a completely wrong belief. There are many medical procedures that help treat the tear depending on its degree and severity of the condition, and they are necessary to avoid any disturbance in movement and walking. Therefore, through this article, we will learn together about the best way to treat a tear in the foot and what are the symptoms and causes of a tear?

What is the treatment for a toe tear?

Treating a toe tear requires an organized and effective treatment plan that works on several axes.

The first treatment stage

The first goal at this stage is to reduce pain and swelling and prevent exacerbation and deterioration of symptoms. Treatment includes complete rest with no stress on the affected foot, taking anti-swelling medications and analgesics, and applying cold compresses to the affected area for 15 minutes 3 times daily, making sure to raise the foot on a pillow when sitting to reduce swelling.

Splint to treat a tear

A splint is used to treat a moderate-degree tear to prevent joint movement and help the ligaments recover quickly. Treatment includes either a rigid splint, a medical brace (medical brace), or a plaster depending on the severity of the tear. The period of immobilization with the splint lasts from two weeks to a month and a half.

Rehabilitation treatment stage

Physical and rehabilitation therapy plays an important and pivotal role in treating foot tears. It includes many exercises that help restore foot movement and prevent stiffness in the ankle joint. It also includes some devices designed to treat joint stiffness and rehabilitate them to progress normally in their motor function. 

Injury Rehabilitation and Adaptation Centre Al Mousa Specialist Hospital consists of a large team of experienced and competent orthopedists and physical therapists, who apply an approved protocol in treating foot tears to restore foot function again and achieve proper fitness, especially after severe injuries. 

Treating toe tears with surgery

Surgical treatment of torn toes is a recognized, although rare, treatment option that includes many types of surgical procedures such as repairing torn ligaments, reconstructing ligaments, and stabilizing the ligaments using medical devices or strong sutures to support the ligaments during the recovery period.

When do we need surgical intervention?

The doctor usually decides the need for surgical intervention to treat a toe tear in the following cases:

• Third degree complete ligament tear.
• The foot does not respond to rehabilitation treatment after 6 months of treatment.
• In case of accompanying injuries such as fractures of nearby bones or damage to tendons.
• In the case of athletes who need complete stabilization of the ankle joint to return to sports safely.

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Causes of toe tears

There are many causes of foot tears, which occur when the ligaments that connect the bones of the foot together are subjected to excessive tension or pressure, leading to partial or complete tearing. The main reasons for this condition include:

• Sudden movement such as jumping or landing the wrong way, or a sudden fall that leads to ankle sprain and tear.
• Sports injuries, such as a collision while playing football, or pressure on the foot due to some strenuous exercises.
• Doing strenuous exercises for long periods without rest, which leads to ligament fatigue and tearing.
• Running on an uneven surface leads to ankle sprains and ligament tears.
• Women wearing high-heeled shoes causes ankle sprains. 
• Exposure to an accident, such as falling from a height or dropping something heavy on the foot.
• Weakness of ligaments due to lack of exercise or aging.

Symptoms of toe tear

Symptoms of a foot tear appear immediately after the injury and the stretching of the ligaments that connect the foot bones. These symptoms do not decrease until treatment for the foot tear begins, and they include the following:

• Increased skin temperature in the affected area due to increased blood flow to it.
• Sudden and severe pain, especially when touching or trying to move the affected part of the foot.
• Severe bloating and swelling due to fluid accumulation in the tissues, and the degree of swelling depends on the tear and its severity.
• The appearance of bruises and a change in skin color to blue and purple as a result of internal bleeding in the tissues.
• Feeling unstable in the foot, making it seem as if it cannot support the body’s weight, which results in difficulty walking.
• Stiffness of the ankle joint with difficulty moving it, and hearing a crackling sound when trying to walk and move the joint.

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Complications of foot tear

Negligence in treating a tear and not going to a specialist doctor may lead to complications of a tear in the foot, including:

• Repeated swelling and swelling of the foot, which hinders movement.
• Severe and chronic pain due to recurring infections around the ankle joint.
• Weakness and instability in the joint due to the ligaments not healing properly. 
• Problem with walking and maintaining balance, which exposes the patient to the risk of falling while walking.
• A constant feeling of heaviness and fragility, as if the foot has become unstable and may break easily.
• Severe difficulty in movement due to joint stiffness, which makes the patient unable to carry out his daily activities.
• Inability to practice sports that require physical effort due to lack of endurance and weakness in the foot and ankle joint. 

The best treatment for toe tears

Rehabilitation therapy is the best treatment for a torn foot, as it aims to restore the strength of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the ankle joint. It also restores balance to the body during movement, and also restores natural foot movement to avoid any future complications. The periods of rehabilitation therapy can be divided as follows:

• First week: It is preferable to rest completely with compresses, as we mentioned, and when sitting, the foot should be kept elevated to help drain fluids and thus reduce swelling.
• From the second to the fourth week: It is preferable to perform balance exercises, such as standing on one foot, and range of motion exercises with massage techniques, under the supervision of a rehabilitation therapist.
• From the fourth to the eighth week: It is the stage of strengthening the muscles by doing resistance exercises, balance and stability exercises, and gradually starting to return to walking and normal movement.
• After the eighth week: Simple jumping exercises and gradual jogging can be done under the supervision of a specialist, in order to restore muscle strength. It is best during this period to wear a medical ankle brace to reduce the risk of recurrence of the injury.

The Sports Injury Rehabilitation and Adaptation Center at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital will help you treat foot tears with the best modern techniques and appropriate rehabilitation treatment at the hands of doctors and specialists from the best medical staff in the Arab world. The center is equipped with the latest and best devices that help you regain foot movement as soon as possible. Just contact us to start your treatment journey.

Frequently asked questions

After learning about the best treatment for toe tears, we present below the most important questions that come to us from our followers, with answers to them in detail

How do I treat a toe tear?

Treatment of a toe tear must be done by a specialized doctor who prescribes appropriate medications such as anti-inflammatories and analgesics along with a splint in cases of moderate and simple tear, and physical therapy helps greatly.

What is the difference between a sprain and a tear?

The difference between a sprain and a tear is that a sprain occurs when the ligaments are excessively stretched without a tear occurring and the pain here is mild, unlike a tear, which is a more serious injury that occurs as a result of either a partial or complete tear in the tendons or ligaments and the pain is more severe.

How do I know if my leg is torn?

You can know that your leg has a tear through the symptoms you feel after the leg injury, which includes severe pain when moving the foot along with swelling and puffiness. The tear can be confirmed through X-rays or MRI.

Does hot water help torn ligaments?

No, in the first days after a tear, hot water may increase swelling and puffiness. It is best to use cold compresses for 48 hours, after which warm, not hot, water can be used to relieve stiffness in the foot joint and improve blood flow to the affected area.

Medical references 

Torn Ligament in Foot – se-ortho