Capsulitis vs. Plantar Plate Sprain. What is the difference?

If you're a runner and you have pain in the ball of the foot, especially around your second toe joint where the toe attaches to the foot, you may be suffering from a plantar plate sprain.

Many years ago, if you had this kind of pain, it would probably have just been called "capsulitis" by your doctor.

But a plantar plate injury is something that has become more recognized as a distinct pathology in the last 10 or 20 years. Plantar plate injuries do not get misdiagnosed nor ignored as often as before.

Plantar plate injuries are very difficult to heal in runners because the ligament gets stretched and strained every time you stand on your foot or bend your toe. 

But the joint capsule can also get injured. Joint capsule injuries and plantar plate injuries are not the same.

Capsulitis vs. plantar plate sprain. What's the difference? 

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