Sound Waves for Sore Soles: Sonographic Evaluation for the Plantar Foot

Walking is a fundamental activity of daily living that is often taken for granted despite the prevalence of plantar foot pain among adults. Ultrasound serves as a valuable tool for assessing plantar foot pain due to its accessibility and affordability and the superior resolution of high-frequency transducers. Differentiating between the various entities that cause plantar foot pain requires special attention to patient positioning, transducer choice, machine settings, and diagnostic maneuvers. By leveraging proper scanning technique and recognizing sonographic hallmarks, ultrasound practitioners can enhance evaluation of plantar foot pain, providing definitive diagnoses in many cases and guiding further management. This review highlights sonographic techniques and key imaging findings for common plantar foot abnormalities, including soft-tissue masses, inflammatory and infectious conditions, traumatic injuries, and vascular abnormalities. Additionally, MRI will be discussed as a useful adjunct when further imaging assessment is required.