Dreading to get out of bed in the morning? You anticipate your plantar fascia pain will make your first steps uncomfortable ones. While throughout the night the thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone and toes becomes tight and stiff creating an extra painful start to your morning. Plantar fasciitis is no fun any time of the day.
Stretching exercises tend to ease the pain in the ligaments, but those take extra time each morning. Using a night splint can be a practical and cost-effective way to treat various foot conditions. Night splints are typically a helpful way to manage foot pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendinitis, Foot Drop, along with other ailments related to heel pain.
Dorsal night splints can be a valuable treatment option for heel pain as this helpful splint gently stretches the plantar fascia throughout the night. To ensure maximum pain relief make sure you have selected the proper size boot/dorsal night splint. Be sure to review the splint instructions to ensure that you have the device adjusted accordingly. The more you wear the night splint, the more positive results you will have. The night splint works by holding the foot in a constant position with the toes pointed up. This position applies a consistent, gentle stretch to the calf muscle and plantar fascia minimizing the stress to the affected area of the foot. Preventing the ligaments from contracting will reduce the inflammation as you sleep. That horrible stabbing pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis can be significantly improved making activities more tolerable.
It’s understandable that most would prefer to sleep with nothing attached to their foot, the use of these night splints can be most beneficial in easing foot and heal pain. The bulkiness of the night brace can make continual use very challenging. Some physicians encourage their patients to wear night splints as a “lazy” splint. Instead of beginning to use the brace solely at night start wearing the foot brace during spare or relaxation time a few hours at a time. Making it more tolerable to build up to wearing the brace for prolonged periods of time during the night while you sleep.
Majority of us are on our feet for multiple hours of the day. Having pain that causes normal daily activities of walking, exercising, working, or everyday household chores to be uncomfortable and difficult. Using a night splint is an excellent start towards a quick recovery, there are additional approaches to combine with the splint to provide less pain and more comfort.
It can be hard to take time and slow down, but it’s important to stop and rest your feet, reduce activities that irritate your heel pain.
Icing the ligaments on the bottom of your foot a few times a day for about 20 minutes each time can be helpful to reduce inflammation.
Stretching will helps strengthen and increase flexibility in the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon helping to alleviate pain and keeping your recovery on the right track.
Wearing the right shoes that are comfortable and supportive during your recovery time such as sneakers. Compression socks can also be paired with your supportive shoes to increase relief.
Although bulky and potentially bothersome, after wearing the splint for a few nights and waking up with less pain, you will be more eager to continue using the splint going forward. Like any injury, your pain will not disappear overnight, with consistent brace use will improve and sometimes even resolve of your severe foot pain is on the horizon.