Night splints hold your foot and ankle in a dorsiflexed position throughout the night. They prevent the plantar fascia ligament from tightening overnight and help reduce morning pain by keeping it stretched.
These splints are non-invasive and can be an effective addition to your podiatric treatment plan. Consistent use is key for obtaining positive results.
They Reduce Morning Pain
Night splints keep the foot flexed in a gentle stretch while you sleep or rest. The overnight stretching encourages healing and lengthening of the plantar fascia, which reduces the sharp, stabbing pain associated with first steps in the morning. The stretch also heals micro-tears and breaks up painful adhesions, making it a key conservative treatment option for plantar fasciitis.
Many patients experience significant improvement in symptom severity with just a few weeks of consistent nightly use. Most begin to notice a reduction in painful stiffness with their first morning steps. If you’re having trouble getting used to sleeping with a night splint, try wearing it for only one hour at a time for the first week or so. Then, increase the amount of time you wear it each night by an hour until you’re comfortable sleeping with the splint in place all night long.
Sock-style night splints are soft, cozy, and comfortable to wear while you sleep. They’re often much more tolerable than traditional boot-style night splints, which encase the entire foot and lower leg to provide a stronger, more aggressive stretch. They may require a longer adjustment period, however, and they aren’t suitable for everyone who suffers from plantar fasciitis. If you’re experiencing pain, numbness or discomfort, or if the splint is slipping or moving during sleep, consult your podiatrist for advice on choosing a more appropriate device.
They Encourage Healing
When you’re suffering from plantar fasciitis, it’s important to follow a comprehensive treatment plan. This includes resting your feet as much as possible during the day. Night splints are an excellent conservative option for reducing morning pain and encouraging healing. They also work well in conjunction with other podiatric treatments like custom orthotics and targeted stretching exercises.
These splints gently hold your foot in a flexed position while you sleep. This prevents the plantar fascia ligament from tightening overnight, which is a common cause of that stabbing heel pain you feel when you take your first steps in the morning.
By keeping the plantar fascia ligament stretched and elongated throughout the night, night splints reduce inflammation and encourage healing. This helps the plantar fascia heal even faster than it would if it were allowed to stiffen and shorten during the day.
In addition to reducing your morning pain, night splints can also help you recover from plantar fasciitis and other conditions like Achilles tendonitis, foot drop, and bunion pain. If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, talk to your podiatrist about whether or not night splints are right for you. Often, wearing the splint consistently and following your podiatrist’s full treatment plan is the key to success.
They Are Non-Invasive
Night splints are an excellent non-invasive option for treating plantar fasciitis. They keep your foot flexed during sleep, which prevents the tissue from tightening, reduces inflammation, and encourages healing. Some patients notice their heel pain improves after just a few nights of wearing the splints. However, consistent use is essential. Skipping nights can undo the positive effects and cause the condition to relapse. A full treatment plan from your podiatrist can include other non-invasive treatments like applying ice, rolling the bottom of your foot on a plastic ball with soft spikes, or physical therapy.
A night splint looks similar to a boot or sock and holds your foot in a gentle stretched position while you sleep. It’s easy to slip on and off at the beginning, but once you get used to wearing it, putting your foot in it should feel natural. Some splints have adjustable dorsiflexion straps, so Dr. Glover works with each patient to find the perfect fit.
For most people, night splints offer a safe and effective path to heel pain relief. They’re most effective when combined with other conservative treatments and a well-established routine. If you haven’t found relief with other methods, schedule a consultation with one of NYU Langone’s specialists to discuss your options for treatment. Call or book online today!
They Are Comfortable
While the initial pain is intense, wearing a night splint consistently over time will ease your pain and speed up healing. There are many types of splints available, with different configurations for your heel and foot. Choose a splint with soft cushioning, breathable fabric and a good amount of stretch.
During the night, the splint holds your foot and arch in a gentle stretch, helping to prevent the fascia from tightening while you sleep. This prevents those pesky spiking pains you feel the first few steps out of bed or after sitting for long periods of time.
In addition to night splints, doctors recommend icing, stretching exercises, shoe modifications and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. Patients who combine night splints with these conservative treatments report much faster relief of their plantar fasciitis.
For patients with severe or chronic plantar fasciitis, a traditional night splint with fully adjustable dorsiflexion may be preferable. This style of splint provides the most consistent stretch for your foot, which will lead to more immediate results in reducing morning plantar fasciitis pain.
Regardless of which type of night splint is best for you, a doctor will recommend that you wear it regularly over time. The goal is to make it comfortable enough to wear over the long term, so you will actually stick with it!