A night splint is a brace that attaches to the foot, ankle and the lower leg and is worn at night just before bedtime. It is intended to elongate the plantar fascia ligament while sleeping. Usually, individuals sleep with the feet plantar flexed, a position that causes the plantar fascia to be foreshortened. Best plantar fasciitis night splint is intended to keep a person’s ankle in a nonaligned position overnight.
Night splints are a form of treatment for plantar fasciitis. Other treatment options include specific stretch exercises, ice massaging of the sore area, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, as well as orthotics. Night splints and orthotic shoe inserts are the most regularly used and successful methods.
A night splint can be made out of molded plaster or fiberglass casting matter. It could also be made out of prefabricated, commercially produced plastic brace.
Numerous studies have shown that the use of night splints has improved plantar fasciitis, in approximately 80 percent of patients. They were found to be especially useful in individuals who had the symptoms for more than 12 months.
Plantar fasciitis night splints permit stretching of the calf and plantar fascia while sleeping. This is intended to minimize stress on the inflamed area on the foot. A night dorsiflexion splint allows inert stretching of the calf and the plantar fascia during sleep. Hypothetically, it also allows healing of the plantar fascia in an elongated position, thus creating a lesser amount of stress with the first step in the morning. It is also claimed that night splints have helped decrease initial pain after getting up in the morning. However, there is no irrefutable medical research that can prove this and there is need for more clinical research.
A major drawback is that these splints provide relief only at night while stretching support is necessary throughout the day. This is more important as the person is on his feet going about the daily routine. They are also uncomfortable to wear while asleep.