Broken Toe Symptoms and What to Do About It
Should you tape a broken toe?
The go-to for a broken toe is typically a fracture shoe, not taping it, Dr. King says. “We tape fingers more than we tape toes. Usually, a fracture shoe is what works best. But occasionally, a doctor may determine that taping is the right step.”
However, don’t try doing it at home without seeing a doctor first. Taping a suspected broken toe can actually prevent healing by pulling apart the bone fragments, Dr. King says. If your doctor recommends taping, then your provider will show you how to tape a broken toe correctly. Typically, you tape the little toe to the fourth toe, and the uninjured toe acts as a splint.
How long does a broken toe take to heal?
You’ll have much less pain after four weeks and should be walking normally again after eight weeks, Dr. King says. At 12 weeks, your broken toe should be fully healed. You can get back to regularly exercising, including running and jumping.
Toe injuries are pretty normal. But if it looks like your toe is broken, it’s best to have a doctor check it out. That way, you can be sure it heals properly, and you can get back to doing your everyday activities pain-free.