Rising sophomore Jonathan Bonner has undergone surgery for a turf toe injury. His return is expected to happen in mid-June. This edition of Examining the Irish looks at turf toe injuries and how modern changes to the game have impacted the frequency of this type of injury.
Introduction
The term "turf toe" was coined in 1976 to describe a hyperdorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Essentially, the big toe is bent back on itself causing damage to the connective tissue surrounding the bones. An in-depth inventory of these connective tissues is beyond the scope of this article, so it is sufficient to say that they include a fibrous joint capsule, small ligaments, and the tendons of the muscles that move the big toe.