What Is a Plantar Fibroma
A plantar fibroma is a relatively easy condition to treat. In most cases, you won’t need surgery to relieve the pain of the nodule. However, nonsurgical treatment might not make the nodule disappear completely. Some nonsurgical treatments your doctor may suggest include:
What Is a Plantar Fibroma, and How Is It Treated?
A plantar fibroma is a noncancerous bump or growth in the arch of your foot. It develops in the plantar fascia, the thick, fibrous tissue at the bottom of your foot.
The plantar fascia covers the area from your heel to your toes and stabilizes your foot arch .
A plantar fibroma, which grows slowly over time, can develop on one foot or both feet. The nodule is typically less than 1 inch in size.
A single lesion is referred to as a plantar fibroma. A condition called plantar fibromatosis can develop if the lesion starts to get larger and others develop on the plantar aspect, or sole, of your foot. This rare condition is also known as Ledderhose disease. The condition Dupuytren’s contracture causes similar nodules on the fingers and palms.
Although anyone can develop a plantar fibroma, it typically occurs in young or middle-aged adults. People assigned male at birth are also more likely to be affected.
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A plantar fibroma typically appears on the bottom of your foot, namely in the middle of the arch.
Possible symptoms of a plantar fibroma or plantar fibromatosis include:
- small bumps that are mostly painless, at least in the early stages
- pain or discomfort if the nodule becomes larger
- pain or discomfort if external pressure is applied to a nodule, which can occur when:
- wearing shoes causes friction
- you’re walking for an extended period
- you’re standing barefoot
The exact cause of a plantar fibroma is unknown. Because it’s not exactly clear what causes a plantar fibroma or why, there’s no known way to prevent its occurrence.
Some experts suspect a genetic component. There’s a higher rate of plantar fibroma in people of Northern European descent.
Plantar fibroma vs. plantar fibromatosis
Plantar fibroma and plantar fibromatosis have different causes.
The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society states that trauma doesn’t appear to play a role in plantar fibromas.
On the other hand, some experts, like those working at the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center, state that there’s a connection between repeated trauma and plantar fibromatosis. An injury may cause tears in the fascia of the bottom of your feet, promoting the growth of nodules.
According to a 2020 review of studies, plantar fibromatosis is often associated with the following chronic conditions:
The connection between these conditions and plantar fibromatosis is unclear.
Some people with plantar fibroma or plantar fibromatosis may just feel a lump, and others may have pain or a tingling sensation at the site.
According to the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center, 80 to 99 percent of people with plantar fibromatosis have joint pain or tingling.
If you suspect you have plantar fibroma, contact a doctor. This condition doesn’t usually heal on its own, and medical treatment may be necessary to relieve any pain caused by the nodule.
At your appointment, a doctor will conduct a physical examination of your foot. This includes pressing the nodule.
Although it’s possible to diagnose a plantar fibroma based on its appearance, a doctor may recommend additional testing. Imaging tests can confirm a plantar fibroma and rule out other conditions, like cysts, granulomas, and malignancies.
Possible imaging tests include:
- X-ray
- MRI
- bone scan, if a tumor is believed to have spread to the bone
In rare instances, a doctor may remove a sample of the tissue and perform a biopsy of the lesion for further investigation.
Plantar fibroma can sometimes regress on its own, but you’ll likely need treatment. The goal of treatment is to reduce any pain and discomfort and decrease the size of the nodule. Treatment is based on the severity of the nodule, so individual treatment plans may vary.
A typical plan will include at least one of the following treatments:
- Topical treatment. Transdermal verapamil 15 percent gel may inhibit the growth of fibrous tissue in the laboratory. The manufacturer claims that this gel, when used correctly, can reduce pain and discomfort within 3 months and remodel the affected tissue within 6 to 12 months. But the scientific evidence for this is very limited. The manufacturer also states that skipping or missing doses can slow the rate of recovery, so be sure to follow your doctor’s directions. After the tissue has been remodeled, recurrence is unlikely.
- Corticosteroid injections. A corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory medication. Injecting a corticosteroid into the nodule can reduce pain and inflammation. If the inflammation goes down, it may become easier to walk, stand, and wear shoes. Although corticosteroid injections are effective for relieving any inflammatory process, the nodule may continue to grow.
- Physical therapy. Physical therapy helps break tissue accumulation in the foot. A physical therapist will help you develop a routine of strength training and stretching exercises that can increase blood circulation and stimulate cell growth. Increased circulation can also reduce inflammation and relieve pain caused by a plantar fibroma. But there are no published studies that show that physical therapy has a significant beneficial result in the treatment of plantar fibromas.
- Surgery. In severe cases, your doctor may suggest surgical removal of the fibroma. This procedure can flatten the arch of your foot and increase your risk of hammer toe, so it’s only used as a last resort. Recovery typically takes at least 6 weeks.
If you’re interested in home remedies for plantar fibroma, consider treatment with orthotics. This nonsurgical treatment involves the use of gel or foam pads and insoles to redistribute body weight and relieve plantar fibroma-associated pain. As a result, wearing shoes and standing may become more comfortable.
Orthotics may be beneficial if the growth is small and hasn’t changed in size. Although their usefulness is questionable, there’s no risk in trying them.
If over-the-counter insoles aren’t improving your symptoms, speak with your doctor about custom options. Keep in mind that the usefulness of custom orthotics has also been questioned.
Contact your doctor if you develop a bump on your foot and the pain interferes with your ability to walk or even stand still.
A plantar fibroma affects people differently. Some develop a small growth that doesn’t cause discomfort, while others experience persistent pain that does not respond to conventional therapies.
Treatment may provide short-term or long-term relief. But growths may recur if you’re prone to developing plantar fibromas.
Last medically reviewed on March 31, 2022
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Ledderhose disease. (2021).
rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6873/ledderhose-disease - Plantar fibroma. (n.d.).
acfas.org/footankleinfo/Plantar_Fibroma.htm - Plantar fibroma and plantar fibromatosis. (n.d.).
footcaremd.org/conditions-treatments/heel/plantar-fibroma-and-plantar-fibromatosis - What to expect from transdermal verapamil 15% gel. (2013).
pdlabs.net/plantar_fibromatosis/whattoexpect_plantar.html - Yun DH, et al. (2020). Ledderhose disease with concomitant presence of Dupuytren contracture: A case report and review of the literature.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2513826X20903501
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
What Is a Plantar Fibroma?
A plantar fibroma is a fibrous knot, or nodule, in the arch of the foot. This nodule is embedded in the plantar fascia—a band of tissue spanning from heel to toe on the bottom of the foot. A plantar fibroma can happen on one or both of your feet at a time. Plantar fibromas are benign, but will not go away unless treated. There is no exact cause for this condition.
Understanding a Plantar Fibroma
A plantar fibroma is a nodule in your foot. A fibroma is a knot of connective tissue, and can happen anywhere in your body. These knots are benign, which means they won’t spread to other parts of your body, but they also won’t go away without treatment.
A plantar fibroma creates a lump on the arch of your foot, which can cause pain. The pain can be intensified the more you step or press on it, or by certain shoes that you wear. This may cause daily discomfort that eventually becomes unbearable.
There’s not an exact known cause of this nodule on your foot. However, some experts believe that they begin with small tears in your plantar fascia from a trauma. The nodules are the result of scar tissue that forms from healing the tears.
A plantar fibroma can occur at any age. However, they’re most common in people middle age and older. Men get them twice as often as women, however the reason for that is still unclear.
Signs and Symptoms of a Plantar Fibroma
The biggest characteristic of a plantar fibroma is a noticeable, firm lump on the arch of your foot. This lump, or nodule, can stay the same size or get larger over time. You can also get more fibromas on your foot or feet.
You may or may not have pain when you have a plantar fibroma. Typically, pain that occurs is because of shoes pushing against the nodule, rather than the nodule itself.
Diagnosing a Plantar Fibroma
Diagnosing a plantar fibroma is relatively easy. You’ll need to see a foot specialist who can rule out other conditions and determine if the lump on your foot is benign.
To get a diagnosis for a plantar fibroma, you’ll need to see a foot and ankle surgeon. They will examine your foot and press on the area affected. Sometimes this can cause pain that reaches your toes. They may take an x-ray or MRI if needed. On rare occasions, they’ll need to do a biopsy to further examine the lump.
The nodule on your foot will likely have no swelling, increased warmth, or redness. When examining your foot, they’ll look for signs of other conditions. Other reasons for soft-tissue masses in your foot include cysts, swollen tendons, nerve tumors, or fatty tumors. They will also rule out foreign body reactions to something like a splinter that can cause swelling or inflection.
Treatment for a Plantar Fibroma
A plantar fibroma is a relatively easy condition to treat. In most cases, you won’t need surgery to relieve the pain of the nodule. However, nonsurgical treatment might not make the nodule disappear completely. Some nonsurgical treatments your doctor may suggest include:
Steroid injections. Putting corticosteroid medication into the nodule may help it shrink it, which will reduce or relieve the pain. This reduction may be temporary though, and the fibroma could eventually return to its original size.
Shoe inserts. If your doctor determines the nodule is not growing anymore, they may suggest using custom shoe inserts. This helps relieve pain by keeping weight off the lump.
Stretching. By stretching your plantar fascia, you may be able to alleviate the pain caused by the nodule. This may help reduce your pain but will not shrink the nodule itself.
Physical therapy. Sometimes the pain can be treated through physical therapy. A physical therapist will help you use anti-inflammatory medication on the nodule.
When to See a Doctor for a Plantar Fibroma
If the nodule on your foot is getting larger and more painful, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to evaluate your plantar fibroma and determine if more extensive treatment is required.
When you’re experiencing pain that doesn’t go away in a few days, it’s best to consult your doctor. They will help you determine the cause of your pain and treat it early.
Show Sources
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American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: “Plantar Fibroma.”
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society: “PLANTAR FIBROMA AND PLANTAR FIBROMATOSIS.”
Foot Health Facts: “Plantar Fibroma.”
International Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine: “Plantar Fibromatosis: An Unusual Cause of Plantar Pain.”
MaineHealth: “Plantar Fibromas | Fibroma Care.”
