Runner’s Toenail: Symptoms, Risk Factors And Preventive Tips

Nov 16, 2021
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A runner's toenail is also called a jogger's toenail that occurs repeated stress of running. In medical science, this inflammation is known as subungual hematoma mostly experienced by runners or joggers. The discolouration mainly comes from blood leaking from the blood vessels. Repetitive stress is the main cause of a runner’s toenail. 

We are going to discuss common symptoms, risk factors and preventive tips for Runner’s Toenail. Let’s get started.

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Common symptoms
Foot specialists have found several symptoms of a runner’s toenail. Some of them include

  • Black or reddish discolouration
  • Pressure under nail
  • Loose toenails
  • Blood blisters
  • Chronic pain
  • Loss of toenail

If an infection is developed, you might experience:

  • Sharp pain
  • Oozing pus
  • Swelling
  • Fever
  • Redness
  • Bad smell

Risk factors
According to the heel pain treatment specialists in Perth, there are several risk factors of a runner’s toenail. It also found moderate or strong evidence that:

  • Experiencing frequent running injuries
  • A history of past feet injury
  • Wearing the wrong orthotics or inserts

Researchers have found some major risk factors for women. They include

Age

  • Past sports activity
  • Running on hard surfaces
  • Running or walking between 30 & 39 miles
  • Wearing improper running shoes

For men, major risk factors include:

  • Running or walking more than 50 miles/week
  • Running or walking between 30 and 35 miles/week
  • Restarting running after a long break
  • Wearing improper running shoes

Heel Pain Treatment in Perth

How to prevent Runner’s Toenail?

Repeated stress to our toe may cause a runner’s toenail. So, reducing stress can help to prevent this problem. Some preventive steps include:

Wear well-cushioned shoes: Excess tight and inadequate footwear may cause chronic pain or inflammation. Wearing well-cushioned shoes can help to prevent Runner’s Toenail.

Keep toenails short: Keeping the toenails short may help to reduce the risk of runner’s toenails or inflammation. Working on a technique can also minimise the risk of injury.

Wearing well-cushioned socks: Socks that offer good cushioning can be able to absorb some excess force while running. So, wearing well-cushioned socks may help to prevent inflammation or pain.

The runner’s toenail never causes any symptom or sign other than discolouration. If you notice any infection like swelling or pus, call the podiatrist near you for a quick diagnosis.

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