A plantar plate tear is a common but often underdiagnosed cause of forefoot pain, particularly under the second metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. What is the Plantar Plate? The plantar plate is a thick fibrocartilaginous structure under the ball of the foot that stabilises each of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints , preventing toes from drifting, splaying, or bending too far up (hyperextending) during normal walking and pushing off. It is a shock-absorber and base for th
