AJC Interview with Dr. Hyman

December 8, 2009 By D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who is suffering from turf toe, has not been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

"The bottom line is that it is a sprain of the ligaments on the bottom of the big toe," said Dr. Jon Hyman, a Harvard University-trained orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert who has worked with the Falcons, Hawks, Thrashers and New York Giants. "It usually happens when somebody is forced to flex their big toe.

"Typically you are on the ground and somebody falls on the back of your leg or jams on your heel," Hyman said. "That forces your toe to kind of bend back too far, and it damages the ligaments on the bottom of the toe."

Ryan's injury is to his right big toe, and he had trouble planting his back foot on the sideline after he was injured.

Full Story: Ryan trying to battle back from nasty injury