Examination Techniques for Plantar Plate Tears This video describes four tests that can be used in the clinical setting to help diagnose plantar plate tears. All four of these tests can easily be performed by the clinician in about 1-2 minutes during the examination of the patient. These four clinical tests give the clinician a very good indication as tp whether a plantar plate tear is present and how severe the plantar plate tear may be. The Dorsal Drawer Test, first described by Thompson and H

The digital plantarflexion taping technique for plantar plate tears is demonstrated by Dr. Kirby in this video. The digital plantarflexion taping technique is designed to restrict the dorsiflexion motion of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the affected digit with a suspected plantar plate tear to only 10-15 degrees of dorsiflexion during the propulsive phase of walking or running. The taping will prevent excessive stretching of the plantar plate during gait. Three 8-9" pieces of 1/2" cloth adhes