Every time a runner calls me who has a plantar plate sprain, they're trying to figure out how they can know for sure they actually do have a plantar plate sprain. They often also want to know how bad the plantar plate injury really is. 

When you're a runner, the problem with plantar plate sprains is that many doctors will offer a standardized cookie cutter approach.

I most often help runners get better without surgery.

That's not because I'm a better doctor. It is because I really put a lot of attention into educating injured runners about how to do all of the additional things to get the injury to heal quickly...so that they can skip the surgery.

One way to start healing faster is by imaging the plantar plate to determine the extent of tissue injury. 

Plantar plate imaging, MRI vs. Ultrasound.

That's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.