Evaluation of Toenail Findings and Ingrown Nails in Athletes

Year 2024, , 506 - 512, 31.08.2024

Deniz Aksu Arıca , Leyla Baykal Selçuk , Elif Ateş , Cahit Yavuz , İbrahim Etem Arica

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1461925

Abstract

Background/Aims: Professional athletes often encounter foot nail issues due to the demands of their intensive training and the conditions within their sports footwear. This study aims to assess the prevalence, characterize the types of nail conditions affecting professional athletes, and identify predisposing factors, shedding light on a critical yet frequently neglected area of sports-related health.
Methods: We surveyed 120 professional athletes from football and basketball teams across three major sports clubs. Data on sociodemographic factors and nail issues were collected via a detailed questionnaire and corroborated with dermatological exams.
Results: The research included 108 football players and 12 basketball players, with 13 female athletes among them. The participants had an average age of 22.87 years and an average sports career length of 6.72 years. Ingrown toenails were reported by 81 athletes (67.5%), with 35 cases involving multiple regions and 9 cases a single region. The condition was most frequently found in the first toe, present in 41 instances. A significant association was found between ingrown toenails and both age and sports activity duration (p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively). Drying between toes was more prevalent among those with ingrown toenails (p=0.005). No significant relationship was observed with other factors such as shoe type, nail cutting habits, pedicure history, fungal infections, or symptoms like sweating and swelling. Dermatological assessments also identified subungual hematoma in 25 athletes, hyperkeratosis in 5, and nail dystrophy in 23.
Conclusions: In professional athletes, a high incidence of ingrown toenails has been associated with increased duration of sports activity; however, no correlation was found with known predisposing factors such as improper nail cutting or incorrect footwear selection, suggesting that the meticulous foot care practices of athletes may mitigate these risks. Proactive dermatological surveillance and tailored educational interventions are imperative for athletes to preemptively address podiatric ailments and uphold optimal performance.

Keywords

nails, athletes, nails, ingrown, football

Ethical Statement

Ethical permission was obtained from the Karadeniz Technical University, Medical Faculty Clinical / Human Research Ethics Committee for this study with date 2017 and number 44, and Helsinki Declaration rules were followed to conduct this study.

Supporting Institution

On behalf of all authors, I, as the corresponding author, accept and declare that; we have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

References

• Metelitsa A, Barankin B, Lin AN. Diagnosis of sports-related dermatoses. Int J Dermatol. 2004;43(2):113-119
• Adams BB. Sports dermatology. Adolesc Med 2001; 12: 305–322
• Mortimer PS, Dawber RP. Trauma to the nail unit including occupational sports injuries. Dermatol Clin. 1985 Jul;3(3):415-20. PMID: 3830505.
• Ergun M, Ertam , Aytimur D, legen Ç,Erboz S. Incidence of superficial mycotic infections in football players. TURKDERM 2001; 35: 312-314
• Ergun 4. Levine N. Dermatologic aspects of sports medicine. Sports Medicine. 1980;3(4):415-24
• Khunger N, Kandhari R. Ingrown toenails. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012 May-Jun;78(3):279-89.
• DeLauro NM, DeLauro TM. Onychocryptosis. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2004 Oct;21(4):617-30, vii.
• Pico AM, Verjano E, Mayordomo R. Relation Between Nail Consistency and Incidence of Ingrown Toenails in Young Male Runners. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2017;107(2):137-143.
• Bordelon RL. Management of disorders of the forefoot and toenails associated with running. Clin Sports Med. 1985 Oct;4(4):717-24.
• Griffin LY. Common sports injuries of the foot and ankle seen in children and adolescents. Orthop Clin North Am. 1994 Jan;25(1):83-93.
• Levy LA. Prevalence of chronic podiatric conditions in the US. National Health Survey 1990. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1992 Apr;82(4):221-3.
• Arica IE, Bostanci S, Kocyigit P, Arica DA. Clinical and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Patients with Ingrown Nails. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2019 May;109(3):201-206.
• Günal I, Koşay C, Veziroğlu A, Balkan Y, Ilhan F. Relationship between onychocryptosis and foot type and treatment with toe spacer. A preliminary investigation. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2003 Jan-Feb;93(1):33-6.
• Adams BB. Running-related toenail abnormality. Phys Sportsmed. 1999 Dec;27(13):85-7.
• Langford DT, Burke C, Robertson K. Risk factors in onychocryptosis. Br J Surg. 1989 Jan;76(1):45-8.
• Haider A, Solish N. Focal hyperhidrosis: diagnosis and management. CMAJ. 2005 Jan 4;172(1):69-75.
• Rauch C, Cherkaoui-Rbati M. Physics of nail conditions: why do ingrown nails always happen in the big toes? Phys Biol. 2014 Oct 16;11(6):066004.
• Darwish FM, Haddad W, Ammari F, Aoudat Z. Association of abnormal foot angles and onychocryptosis. Foot (Edinb). 2008 Dec;18(4):198-201.
• Jenkins DW, Cooper K, O'Connor R, Watanabe L, Wills C. Prevalence of podiatric conditions seen in Special Olympics athletes: Structural, biomechanical and dermatological findings. Foot (Edinb). 2011 Mar;21(1):15-25.
• Zarâa I, Trojjet S, Mokni M, El Euch D, Laabidi H, Mezlini S, Ben Osman Dhahri AB. Les dermatoses du sportif: a propos de 30 athletes [Dermatologic disorders of the athlete: a report of 30 cases?]. Tunis Med. 2008 Oct;86(10):865-8. French.
• Purim KS, Bordignon GP, Queiroz-Telles Fd. Fungal infection of the feet in soccer players and non-athlete individuals. Rev Iberoam Micol. 2005;22(1):34-38.
• Purim KS, de Freitas CF, Leite N. Dermatofitoses podais em futebolistas [Feet dermatophytosis in soccer players]. An Bras Dermatol. 2009;84(5):550-552.