Have you ever heard of your plantar plate? This is a thick ligament in your foot, that runs along the ball of the foot connecting to the joints. It protects the bottom of you metatarsals (foot bones) from excess pressure, preventing your toes from over extending or spreading too far apart. It can develop tears from overloading or repetitive strain. These can be particularly common in dancers and runners. You can also be more prone to developing one if you tend to over-pronate (roll your feet inwards), have a bunion or hammer toe, or have a particularly long second metarsal....

Having foot pain can have a serious impact on your life, your mobility and your ability to work. Our feet are what enable us to go from one place to another and when they are injured, we really notice it. They are one of the most overworked parts of our body, which is why when we feel even the slightest discomfort, it has the potential to be debilitating. Foot injuries and any sort of foot pain can limit the distances we walk, let alone allow us to stand. But the challenge is that foot pain can often be very general...