Matt Ryan's 'Turf Toe' Explained

ATLANTA (11ALIVE) -- 11Alive News learned Monday that Atlanta Falcons' Quarterback Matt Ryan would be sidelined for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ryan is reportedly suffering from an injury that is not uncommon among professional and college athletes: turf toe.

11Alive's Fred Kalil played college football. He explains exactly what turf toe is, from personal experience:

Turf Toe
by: Fred Kalil, 11Alive Sports

We hear so much about Turf Toe that I've decided to try and explain as best I can.

I have looked up definitions online and spoken with various doctors and the consensus definition of turf toe is: Pain the base of the Big Toe at or near the ball of the foot. It is usually caused by jamming the toe (this is because shoes often stick in artificial turf and cause a painful stubbing, thus Turf Toe.

I've had it and it hurts! The Injured can have stiffness swelling and pain at the bottom of the big toe or the base.

It's diagnosed usually by a trainer or doctor who sees the injury. It's not that hard to figure out, however sometimes x-rays are taken to make sure there is no break or arthritis.

Treatment is usually rest and ice on the injury and sometimes anti-inflammatory medicines and rest is usually prescribed sometimes up to 3 weeks to make sure it's healed properly.

Turf toe can return if a player tries to come back too soon and sometimes bone spurs do occur. Ever stub your big toe HARD?! You know where you think you may have broken it? Multiply that times about 4 or 5 and that's turf toe.

Let's hope Matt Ryan responds to treatment and will only miss one game.