The plantar plate is a ligament beneath the joints at the base of the toes in the feet. A plantar plate tear happens when there is a tiny tear of this ligament. In the past this condition may have been referred to as metatarsalgia, but that was a rather generic word for almost any pain within the foot related to the metatarsals. Since more become known regarding the anatomy with the foot and the role of the anatomy in several painful conditions the words plantar plate dysfunction and plantar pate tear become better understood to explain this disorder. The disorder commonly begins with mild pain under the metatarsal head in the foot that comes on gradually. Later it might be pretty painful when pressed on. Occasionally, the toe may possibly become raised as the tear suggests that the ligament has difficulty holding the toe down that is one of the functions of that ligament. An ultrasound investigation could be used to verify the diagnosis.

The main cause of this disorder is not really obvious however it is related to too much use and overstretching of the ligament. Several foot types also seem to have this more regularly. The usual initial treatment for a  plantar plate tear is frequently taping to hold the toe down to alleviate the strain on the plantar plate that has the tear. A metatarsal pad is often utilized as well or instead of the strapping to help reduce stress on that plantar plate. Occasionally padding to offload the sore area can give plenty of comfort. Additionally, a rigid soled footwear may be used to even more stop the toe from bending is usually combined with the aforementioned. Frequently, this treatment should be utilized for a minimum of a couple of months to find out if it may help. Frequently, this works well in nearly all cases. Nevertheless, if it does not help, then surgical solutions have to be considered to repair the rupture.