Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints

Plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the plantar fascia comes about when the ligament suffers very small tears where it inserts into the heel bone, or anywhere along its length. With poor foot mechanics, excessive use or other risk factors, the force on the plantar fascia during running or walking and the shift of body weight from one foot to the other can force the fascia from the heel bone and develop microscopic tears.

Plantar fasciitis splints are typically referred to as "night splints" because they are used by the patient at night during sleep. Normally for use during the day, a lighter, more movable plantar fasciitis sock is used to stretch the plantar fascia during rest. The night splint is a semi fixed, cushioned boot. They are often likened to comfortable snowboarding boots.

Night splints have been shown to help cut the most severe pain and swelling of plantar fasciitis that is normally experienced first thing in the morning with the patient's first footsteps of the day. Night splints function by maintaining the foot in a position of dorsiflexion (toes pointing up rather than relaxed and pointing flat forward) at night and thus preventing the contraction of the plantar fascia and calf muscle. The leg and foot is maintained in a very mild stretch. The severe pain frequently felt in the morning is a result of the first footsteps forcing the plantar fascia to overstretch due to the force of body weight, thereby tearing the tiny fibers that began to heal in a shortened position during the night. By wearing a plantar fasciitis night splint, this morning overstretching and damage can be avoided.

Studies have also shown that wearing a night splint can quicken the healing process as the plantar fascia is kept lined up with the foot arch. Since getting sufficient rest is key for the healing process, using a plantar fasciitis night splint can cut the soreness experienced during the night and let the patient get better sleep.

Studies have shown that close to 80% of patients report improvements in their plantar fasciitis after wearing a night splint for some time. Particularly, using night splints may be especially useful in patients who have been suffering from plantar fasciitis for over one year.

Early diagnosis and a mapped out treatment plan are important for healing plantar fasciitis. If treatment is delayed or deficient in the early stages of plantar fasciitis, the condition can take six to eighteen months or more to be fully healed. Nonetheless by following a properly structured treatment plan and mixing several of the individual treatments available, thankfully in most cases, non-invasive treatment is enough to cure the condition. Only in the worst cases is surgery required.