Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot condition that produces sharp pain whenever you put weight on the foot. Anyone who has it is desperate to find relief fast. They don’t have time to muck around with ineffective treatments. That’s why we’ve gone out of our way to review a range of plantar fasciitis night splints to identify the best of the best.
In this article, we’ll review the 5 best plantar fasciitis night splints on the current market. You can also check out our reviews of the 5 best plantar fasciitis massagers as well. We’ll answer all your plantar fasciitis questions with a comprehensive F.A.Q.
Our Top Picks
1. Vive Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint + Trigger Point Spike Ball
Our Top Rated Splint
The Vive Night Splint is fitted with a padded foam wedge designed to lift the foot in order to lessen inflammation and enhance comfort. The Vive provides you with soft padding for enhanced comfort along with a soft lining to prevent abrasions. This soft lining also promotes breath ability through the foot. The exterior is rigid to ensure durability and support. This is a completely adjustable splint that can be worn on both feet.
The Vive splint keeps the foot in a neutral position to allow the tendons to be comfortably stretched. You get two padded stretch wedges and dual tension straps that extend the toes to gently increase the stretch on the fascia.
Unlike some night splints, you can comfortably walk on this brace during the night. The internal padding is quite breathable while also preventing skin irritation.
This splint makes use of three strong webbing straps to provide for complete adjust-ability. They feature snap buckles so you don’t have to adjust them every time you put them on. However, these buckles may dig into the skin.
Versatility is a key feature of the Vive night splint. The combination of dual tension straps, padded stretch wedges and ability to be worn on either foot allow for a lot of personalization. The brace is equally suitable for both males and females.
The Vive night splint is a little bulky and cumbersome. However, this is the nature of the beast when it comes to this type of product. Vive does a better job than most of minimizing these factors.
2. Copper Compression Gear Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint
The Foot Bliss Plantar Fasciitis night splint has been ergonomically designed to stabilize and support their heels, ankles and tendons. This brace is easy to adjust and easy to wear. It is made from Velcro and neoprene, making it much lighter and less tedious to wear than hard exterior splints.
The open toe and heel design allow for full breathability. It features a ‘boomerang’ metal strip along the arch, allowing you to easily bend the ankle angle.
The Foot Bliss Plantar Fasciitis night splint is a very cost-effective splint. It provides a medium level of support while delivering a comfortable foot support that won’t weight you down or keep you awake at night.
3. BraceAbility Plantar Fasciitis Night Sock
The Braceability Plantar Fasciitis Night Sock is a more comfortable alternative to bulky night splints. The night sock is designed to pull the plantar fascia back throughout the night so that the fascia can heal in a stretched position.
The Braceability night sock is made from a neoprene material that warms up the foot slightly through the night to promote faster healing. The open heel and built-in moisture wicking ensures that you will not suffer from excessive sweating. The brace features an adjustable strap that pulls back on your toes along with medical grade fasteners to ensure maximum durability. A personalized ankle wrap makes sure that the sock will not slip or roll down overnight.
The Braceability has a non-slip tread that allows you to take short trips throughout the night. A remodeled version as of March 2019 features a wider toe box, longer ankle strap and more stretchable toe stretching strap. The sock can be worn on either foot.
4. Mars Wellness Plantar Fasciitis Posterior Night Splint
The Mars Wellness Plantar Fasciitis Posterior Night Splint is a well-constructed splint that allows for individual adjustability. You get dual tension straps for customized positioning. This splint is breathable though quite heavy which may promote night time sweating.
The Mars Wellness splint delivers a mild level of stretch on the plantar fascia and calf muscle as you sleep. It has a low profile to reduce weight and discomfort. The internal padding gives a comfortable feel against the skin while also protecting against abrasions. A washable lycra cover brings a level of coolness to the foot. The splint also features a foam wedge to elevate the toe.
5. Quanquer Adjustable Dorsal Night Splint
The Quanquer Plantar Fasciitis night splint is a low profile night splint that is light weight and supportive. It will keep your foot in a 90-degree position as you sleep so that you get a gentle stretch overnight. This will ease the pain when you first put pressure on the foot in the morning.
The instep of the splint features a light aluminum bar that maintains the arched foot position. The elastic strapping is wider than most competitors. This will help to keep the brace in position as you sleep without it slipping or rolling in place.
The internal lining of the brace features a soft foam insert to provide comfort and reduce pressure points. An open heel design promotes comfort and breathability. This splint can be worn on either foot and is equally suitable for men or women. However, putting it on and taking it off is trickier than on most splints.
FAQ:
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is painful irritation of the plantar fascia, a tough ligament-like tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. It attaches at the heel bone and fans out to attach at the base of each toe.
Pain may occur anywhere along the base of the foot but usually concentrates on the heel area. Sharp pain occurs on the weight bearing foot. This becomes worse after an extended period of being inactive. Sufferers may also experience numbness, tingling or swelling.
What can cause plantar fasciitis?
The condition is the result of repeated micro-trauma. Long distance runner’s are among the most frequent sufferers but the condition is by no means limited to the running community. It may develop as the result of long periods of weight bearing of the foot on hard surfaces. People who wear shoes without good arch support are also prone to plantar fasciitis. Obesity is another risk factor.
What are the best treatments for plantar fasciitis?
There are a number of exercises to help treat plantar fasciitis. Most of these have the goal of stretching the calf muscle, which attaches to the heel bone. Tight caves will pull the heel up and back, making a person more susceptible to plantar fasciitis.
Massage can be an effective pain reliever. It is best to use self massage tools such as a foam roller or a vibrating massage ball. Cold and heat treatments may also bring relief. There are also over the counter medications and natural remedies designed to treat plantar fasciitis.
How long does it take to recover from plantar fasciitis?
Treatment for plantar fasciitis may take anything from two months to two years. However, the majority of sufferers are pain free after around nine months.
Does plantar fasciitis go away on its own?
For most people, the condition will go away in time, provided that they wear shoes with good heel support, give their feet as much rest as possible and regularly stretch the calf and foot.
What happens if I don’t treat my plantar fasciitis?
If you don’t treat your plantar fasciitis, the condition will take much longer to heal. Continuing to play sport, not resting your arch post injury and not wearing supportive footwear will only make the condition worse.
Will walking help my plantar fasciitis go away?
Gentle waling will help to relieve the symptoms. It will loosen the tension and stretch the Achilles. Be sure to walk on a soft surface such as carpet or grass.
Why does plantar fasciitis seem to get worse at night?
Actually, most people find that it is most painful first thing in the morning when they get out of bed. That’s because the plantar fascia contracts throughout the night but then starts to tear open as you put your body weight on it in the morning.
Can plantar fasciitis cause permanent damage?
Yes. The condition often causes people to alter the way they walk in order to avoid pain. This can have a flow on effect to negatively affect their posture and spinal alignment and may cause damage to other parts of the body.
Can stretching make plantar fasciitis worse?
Yes and no. The plantar fasciitis itself is not meant to be stretched. In fact, the condition is caused in part by over stretching. So, you do not want to stretch your foot. However, stretching the calf muscles can relieve pressure on the heel.
Does soaking in Epsom salts help plantar fasciitis go away?
Yes. Soaking the foot in Epsom salts has been shown to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis. Put two or three tablespoons of Epsom salts in a tub of warm water and soak the foot for about 15 minutes a couple of times a day.
Does massaging help plantar fasciitis go away?
Yes. A big part of the problem with plantar fasciitis is that the fascia becomes increasingly tighter. Massage helps to release the tension and break up scar tissue. Use a foot massager to provide self-stimulation to the affected are.
Do Plantar Fasciitis night splints work?
Yes. Night splints are effective because they stretch out the plantar fascia to overcome the contraction that naturally happens when you are sleeping. This will dramatically lessen the amount of pain you experience when you take your first step in the morning.
Can a night splint make plantar fasciitis worse?
No, However, they may cause excessive foot sweating and pressure on the toes.
What are some of the things you need to look for in a night splint?
When buying a night splint for plantar fasciitis, look for a splint that is strong enough to support the foot without being overly heavy or bulky. It should be easy to get on and off and be fully adjustable.
You also need to decide whether you want a dorsal tension splint, a sock or a full plantar tension splint. If you are a person who finds it difficult to fall asleep without a splint, then you may not be well suited to a full splint.
The splint should allow for at least five degrees of dorsiflexion. The splint should also be easy to clean, be able to be worn on both feet and be suitable for both men nd women.
Final Thoughts
The best overall plantar fasciitis night splint on the current market is the Vive Night Splint, which provides firm support in a low profile, along with plenty of versatility and soft padding for extra comfort. Taking our silver medal spot is the Copper Compression Gear Plantar Fasciitis night splint. It is made from soft material for a lightweight feel, open toe and heel for maximum breathability and comes in at a sharp price point.
Rounding out our top 3 plantar fasciitis night splints is the Braceability Plantar Fasciitis Night Sock, with its high level of stability, lightweight, flexibility and breathable neoprene material.