Using tape a plantar plate tear in the foot
A plantar plate tear is a tiny tear or strain in the ligament which is under the smaller toe joints in the foot. It is almost always associated with overuse, especially in exercises that need the toes to be bent up or dorsiflexed. The pain is commonly just above the region distal to the joint on the bottom of the foot. As this issue is due to the toe bending to much backwards or upwards (dorsiflexing) when walking, taping is a great method to restrict that motion.
The most effective method for taping a plantar plate tear is to loop some tape about the toe to pull the toe downwards in a plantarflexed position. The ends of the tape go below the ball of the foot and by looping around the toe it can hold it downwards. The reasoning being is whenever we walk, and the heel lifts up off the floor and the toe bends there's less strain on the plantar plate as the toe is hindered from bending up. That way the plantar plate tear taping could actually help the damage get better. This can easily take a while although is by and large successful. Additional techniques may be used to assist in preventing the dorsiflexion across the joint that is painful, for example using a more rigid sole shoe that is not bendable as this can prevent excessive motion in the joints. Additionally, there are stiff plates which you can use as shoe inserts to help make the footwear stiffer. A foot orthotic insert which has a hole around the uncomfortable place can also be used to get force away from the sore place may also make it much more comfortable to walk on. These kinds of methods are generally quite useful, particularly that taping. Even so, as we still have to walk around on the foot and not have complete rest, it may take a few months of this approach in order to obtain a result. It sometimes may not really work out that way or the issue is especially distressing. In those situations, surgery to mend the tear may well be suggested.