There's a bizarre feeling that can happen beneath the forefoot which is frequently described as a feeling that the sock is bunched up under the toes, however when you looked at it, it is fine. The sensation is commonly referred to and is often confusing. Most likely the sense is caused by a problem with a ligament at the base of one or more of the metatarsophalangeal (toe) joints of the foot called plantar plate dysfunction. About each joint, there is a strong covering known as the joint capsule. Parts of each joint capsule are thicker which are the ligaments which protect and stabilise the joints. Underneath the base of the metatarsophalangeal joints, that joint capsule is thicker to produce what is known as the plantar plate. You possibly can strain or perhaps get a minor split in that plantar plate, which in turn causes that sensation of a sock that feels as though its bunched up beneath the toes.

The symptoms usually commences little by little below the ball of the foot and can be preceded with that odd bunched sock feeling. The most common symptom of plantar plate dysfunction is pain on palpation of the vicinity of the plantar plate. An expert clinician will be able to move the joint in a way to detect if the plantar plate is impaired. A definitive diagnosis can be performed having a diagnostic ultrasound, however it's pretty apparent to a proficient clinician on examination. Normally the initial treatment methods are strapping to hold the toe pointing down to relieve the pressure on the ligament. A metatarsal pad is also often used to reduce the strain on the . This usually improves many cases of plantar plate dysfunction and get rid of that strange experience of a bunched up sock under the ball of the foot. In the event that those conservative treatments do not help, surgical repair of the partial or complete split of the ligament is sometimes carried out.