Chronic Injury: A chronic plantar plate injury is very different than an acute injury. Here the plantar plate (ligament) will have micro-tears and stretch out over time. A chronic injury can occur from a trauma where the initial plantar plate tear was undiagnosed – this is best considered a non-healing injury. Alternatively a chronic injury of the plantar plate may occur from biomechanical imbalance to the foot where repetitive stress causes repeat tearing.