Has Jogging Made My Nail So Loose It Might Fall Off?

The most common type of trauma is sudden, such as slamming your finger accidentally in the door, or being hit by a heavy object. But repeated, less violent trauma can also cause enough damage to lead to the nail becoming loose and this can come from pressure from a shoe or even a soft trainer.

Q Both my second toenails seem to be a bit loose and wobbly. Could it be because I’ve been doing a lot of jogging over the summer? I’m worried they are going to fall off. Is there anything I can do to stop it?

A Nails grow from a group of cells, the germinal matrix, situated under the skin between the nail and the last joint of the toe or finger. Trauma to the base of the nail can lead to it separating away from this matrix area, so it becomes loose.

Interestingly, nail bed damage is more likely with trainers that are slightly too big rather than ones that are slightly too small, as a fold can develop that presses on the top of the toes. Trainers that are a bit small can cause pressure on the end of the toes.

Unfortunately, once the nail has separated from the growth matrix there is nothing you can do about it and, in time, the loose nail will grow out and fall off.

But by the time this happens, a new nail should be visibly growing to replace it.

Nails grow, on average, between 2mm and 3mm a month, with fingernails growing faster than your toenails.

Contrary to what you may have read, there is nothing you can do to speed this up, but eating a well-balanced diet, with plenty of protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, is important for strong, healthy nails.

There should be no need for you to stop jogging, but it would be worthwhile going to a specialist sports shoe shop and checking you have trainers that are the right size.