Does a mallet toe lead to plantar plate sprain in a runner?

Plantar plate injuries in runners are a common topic at medical conferences because they cause a lot of pain in the ball of the foot. 

I just spoke to a runner who had an interesting question about plantar plate injuries, which was a question I never would have imagined.

She wanted to know whether or not a "mallet toe" might lead to a plantar plate sprain.  She didn't really understand the difference between a "mallet toe" and a "hammer toe."  But she did understand that one or both are in some way related to plantar plate injuries. 

Does a mallet toe lead to a plantar plate sprain in runners? 

Well, that is a good question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.