Night Splints work by stretching the calf and plantar fascia of the foot as you sleep. This helps to minimize stress on the areas of the foot that are inflamed. Many users find that the morning pain they experience in their feet is reduced drastically. Night splints also help provide the supportive stretching the user may need throughout the day while they are on their feet. The support can potentially aid work, exercise, and many other everyday routines.
Most people naturally sleep with their feet in a plantar-flexed position, which causes the plantar fascia to be shortened. Night splints maintain a neutral 90° foot-leg angle and provide constant passive stretching of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. Their effectiveness is believed to derive from the rest and healing provided by the constant stretching. In addition, the passive stretching helps prevent microtrauma at the plantar fascia–bone interface with the first steps out of bed in the morning.
While you use night splints, you can continue other treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physiotherapy, or orthotic devices.
The most exciting thing about night splints is that they gently stretch the fascia! The user doesn’t feel overwhelming discomfort while wearing them. Once stretched out, the plantar fascia will be less tense. This means the user will experience less pain! For some people wearing the splints overnight works best. However, many other users report feeling more benefits after wearing splints for a longer period of time. When first starting to use night splints you should try to only wear them for about one hour. You should gradually extend the amount of time you spend in the splints each night. Then you can gradually reduce how often you use them as your symptoms go away. The brace usually is adjustable, so you and your doctor can adjust it to the proper angle.