Video transcript

Let’s talk about your injury and what you can expect during recovery.

The front part of your foot — called the forefoot — is made up of bones known as metatarsals. These connect to the smaller bones in your toes, called phalanges. A fracture in one of these bones can happen if you stub your toe, drop something on it, or twist it awkwardly.

In most cases, toe fractures are stable and not badly out of place. We can usually identify the injury through a clinical assessment and a simple X-ray. These are common injuries and usually heal well without causing long-term problems.

Most of the time, these fractures don’t need surgery. Instead, treatment involves buddy taping — that’s where we tape the injured toe to the one next to it for support — and using a special surgical shoe or a heel-weightbearing shoe. These help protect the area and make walking more comfortable.

You’re generally allowed to walk on the foot from the start, as long as it’s within your comfort. It’s normal to feel some pain when walking early on, but we actually encourage light movement and activity rather than complete rest. Keeping still for too long can lead to muscle weakness and raise the risk of blood clots in the leg.

Most people can stop using the buddy tape and protective shoe after about four to six weeks. At that point, you can usually switch into a firm, supportive shoe like a walking boot, which will reduce movement at the fracture site and make things more comfortable. In many cases, this transition can be done at home on your own. But if there are any concerns about healing — or if you have risk factors like diabetes or poor circulation — you may be asked to come back to clinic for review before making that change.

While surgery isn’t usually needed, it might be considered if the fracture is badly out of position, if several bones in the forefoot are broken, or if the fracture involves a joint in a way that could affect how your foot moves in future.

One of the most common issues after a toe fracture is swelling, which can last several weeks. You might also have bruising and general discomfort around the area. These symptoms are normal and tend to settle with time. Swelling often gets worse after long periods of standing or walking and improves with rest and elevation. In the first few weeks especially, it helps to raise your foot when resting and to use a cold compress regularly.

If your fracture is not displaced, you can expect a straightforward recovery. Most people use buddy taping and a protective shoe for four to six weeks, then gradually return to normal footwear as their symptoms improve.

Even after six weeks, you may still have some swelling or mild pain, but this will gradually get better. You should avoid high-impact activities like running or jumping until the foot feels completely back to normal — and for most people, that’s around ten to twelve weeks after the injury.

You won’t usually need formal physiotherapy. Just gradually increase your walking and day-to-day activities as the pain improves, and your foot will recover in time.