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Turf toe (and curling toes under your feet while kneeling - or not)

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Created by kook123 2 months ago, 21 Sep 2025
kook123
116 posts
21 Sep 2025 11:39PM
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During a long/intense wing session earlier this summer, I started having a bunch of pain in one of my big toes from time on my knees with toes curled under my feet, and getting up from there.

I had no idea what it was, but it continued to be pretty painful and did not get much better, until recently I figured out that it is pretty clearly a case turf toe, and now that I understand it, it would seem to a risk factor for this activity.

So now I'm curious if others have had it, and what they have done to deal with it...

I can do knees to standing without curling my toes under while kneeling, but find that is a bit harder transition, but also find it easier to get to my knees on the board if I don't curl my toes under...and that raises another question about who's curling toes and who isn't...

TooMuchEpoxy
419 posts
21 Sep 2025 11:56PM
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It's not a big deal winging but prone pop up is brutal on my back big toe it's bleeding 90% of the time for the last 5 years doesnt seem to bother me much!

makesurf
NSW, 247 posts
30 Sep 2025 5:46PM
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I have had gout and ingrown toenails playing havok with getting up from my knees for years.
Pills fix the gout, see your doctor
A podiatrist is needed for the toe nails.

SUPSurferQLD
QLD, 333 posts
1 Oct 2025 10:42AM
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I think I know what you mean, I often get my big toe "squeezed" during a transition up to my feet from drop knee, and its f*ckn painful, like bending you toe as far forward as you can then standing on it with all of your weight. They are not that flexible! It only happens a couple of times each session. Booties helped it a lot. I also think planting a hand down to support yourself up would help as well but I'm always too busy holding the wing in place.

DWF
707 posts
1 Oct 2025 8:01PM
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Don't sail on your knees! everyone should just say no to sailing on their knees. Sit and wait on a more wind. It's only going to lead to more issues down the road.

sunsetsailboards
519 posts
2 Oct 2025 3:37AM
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I don't curl my toes under when kneeling... seems like it would be extremely painful. I do have a bad case of turf toe on one foot from multiple repeated injuries skateboarding and windsurfing. There are some pretty good taping techniques to support your big toe and alleviate stress on the joint. I used Leukotape for strapping... it's fantastic, but for repeated use it will tear up your skin eventually.

kook123
116 posts
2 Oct 2025 3:56AM
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Select to expand quote
sunsetsailboards said..
I don't curl my toes under when kneeling... seems like it would be extremely painful. I do have a bad case of turf toe on one foot from multiple repeated injuries skateboarding and windsurfing. There are some pretty good taping techniques to support your big toe and alleviate stress on the joint. I used Leukotape for strapping... it's fantastic, but for repeated use it will tear up your skin eventually.






Nice...Taping can definitely help, and I've been playing around with that in part because I've got a stockpile of tape after getting my Wilderness First Responder a couple years ago and need practice using it.

It's finally starting to heal up reasonably well (but very slowly), helped also by stiff shoe inserts.

Next week I start in earnest to regain some range of motion, and then slowly work in some strength with isometrics.

I had always curled my toes under when kneeling because for me it made the move to my feet a lot quicker and easier so I thought that was THE way...wish I could find that recent BRM video of one of the guys going from straddling and holding the parawing in one hand and then pressing straight to his feet (I think starting with front foot and rear hand on the deck)...

flowstate
70 posts
15 Oct 2025 6:29AM
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Select to expand quote

kook123 said..

...I had always curled my toes under when kneeling because for me it made the move to my feet a lot quicker and easier so I thought that was THE way...wish I could find that recent BRM video of one of the guys going from straddling and holding the parawing in one hand and then pressing straight to his feet (I think starting with front foot and rear hand on the deck)...


link below to clip of Greg making the bum start look so easy.
still havent managed to translate that start to the wing, bigger wing in partic just doesnt want to sit there and pull me up. Only non-knee start works so far is the old uphaul - not partic useful out in ocean bumps.
Water start no fun on neutral buoyancy board.
I'm in boardshorts, no booties, and waxed deck, so toe, foot, and knee wear is a constant.
Sticking a thin square of soft boat cushion EVA foam just aft of my rear foot position [so tops of feet, toes are on the soft foam when kneeling, instead of on wax or harsh deckgrip] helps a lot winging, as does varying the angle of knee starts, sometimes in-line with board, sometimes 90 or 45 deg offset so toes overboard.
Prone, still dragging top of foot and toes across the wax and cursing

www.instagram.com/reel/DIw2a6yzOL5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

kook123
116 posts
15 Oct 2025 9:03AM
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Nice...I've got a coffee table about the size of that 48L Greg is on first...perhaps a good winter project is working on the mobility and strength to stand up on that in the same way (likely with some help from a strap or band)



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"Turf toe (and curling toes under your feet while kneeling - or not)" started by kook123