Do Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints Work?

Plantar fasciitis night splints are designed to provide relief from heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis.  The design of the brace is to support your foot and ankle at night, preventing your foot from pointing downward.  There are two types of plantar fasciitis night splints: Anterior Dorsal Splints, Posterior Boot Splints.  We’ll look at the differences in this article. 

The Theory Behind Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints

There are two main reasons why plantar fasciitis night splints are recommended:

1. To Provide a prolonged stretch to the Plantar Fascia
2. To Prevent further shortening of the calf muscle and plantar fascia

There is already research that shows the effectiveness of stretching and how it can provide relief from symptoms in the short term.  (JOSPT Research guidelines: Plantar Fasciitis)

The idea behind plantar fasciitis night splints or braces is that you can apply a longer stretch to the plantar fascia while you sleep.  

Do Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints Work?

Multiple research studies have been performed on the efficacy or effectiveness of using night splints to treat plantar fasciitis. Here are some of the studies and the results:

Study #1: Plantar fasciitis: a prospective randomized clinical trial of the tension night splint.

The Results: “Of the 16 feet originally randomly assigned to the Tension Night Splint group, 16 of 16 were cured with an average treatment time of 12.5 weeks. The Night Splint treatment protocol was a significantly more efficacious treatment regime (p < 0.05). “

Study #2  Mechanical treatment of plantar fasciitis. A prospective study.

The Results: “Two hundred fifty-five subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: custom-made orthoses, over-the-counter arch supports, or tension night splints. Subjects were treated for 3 months, with follow-up visits at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. No statistically significant difference was noted among treatment groups with respect to final outcomes based on first-step pain or pain felt during the day.”

Interpretation: If it comes down to paying $200 for custom orthotics or using a $25 night splint, you might have similar results with the cheaper night splint.  

Study #3:  Effective Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis with Dorsiflexion Night Splints: A Crossover Prospective Randomized Outcome Study

The Results: “Significant improvement occurred after 1 month of splinting and was maintained at completion of the study. Results were not affected by obesity or foot type. We demonstrated that dorsiflexion night splints can be an effective treatment in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Addition of stretching and strengthening exercises may provide even greater improvement. We believe that dorsiflexion night splints are a low-risk alternative to surgical release for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.”

Study #4  Effectiveness of adjustable dorsiflexion night splint in combination with accommodative foot orthosis on plantar fasciitis

The Results: “The application of accommodative foot orthoses with adjustable dorsiflexion night splints was found to be more effective than the application of foot orthoses alone in relieving foot pain in subjects with plantar fasciitis. The soft neoprene material and the self-adjustable strap tension of the soft night splint could avoid discomfort while maintaining the treatment effects.”

What is the Overall Conclusion:

There are many studies that show night splints to be very helpful in decreasing symptoms of plantar fasciitis.  Some studies were mixed or didn’t show significant differences with the use of night splints.

The bottom line: night splints may decrease symptoms and help relieve heel pain when used in combination with stretches, exercises and other treatments.

What are the Best Night Splints for Plantar Fasciitis?

These studies used a specific style of plantar fasciitis night splints that share the following features:

– Adjustable Dorsiflexion Tension controls / straps

– Soft padded ankle supports

– Lightweight, low profile supportive shell

Anterior Dorsal Splint

Anterior refers to the front of the foot or leg.  The term dorsal or dorsum is another way of describing the anterior (front) part of your foot and shin.  The design of these dorsal splints place the supportive brace along the front of the foot and shin. The Cramer Dorsal splint is an example of this style. The key benefit of this style splint is that is is more comfortable for some people, allowing the heel to breath.  Some reviews also note this style of brace does not get as hot as the ‘boot style’ brace described below.

Posterior Boot Splint

The term posterior refers to the back of the foot or leg.  On the posterior boot splint, the supportive structures are located along the back of the ankle and heel of your foot, preventing your foot from pointing downward at night.  The design of this brace is effective, but it generally is described as a little more bulky as it can feel like you’re wearing shoes or boots to bed.

Which splint is better?

There have not been any conclusive studies to determine if dorsal splints are better than boot splints.  The biggest difference appears to be in the comfort levels while wearing the brace. If you absolutely cannot stand when your feet get hot at night, you probably won’t like the boot splint.  If you don’t like the idea of a supportive brace along the top of your foot, avoid the dorsal splint.

Top Rated Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints

Mars Wellness Night Splint

Highly Rated: 4.0 star rating with over 1,700 reviews

The Mars Wellness brand of plantar fasciitis night splints come in various sizes: S, M, L.  Designed with padded straps and buckles, these braces ensure immobilization of the foot to ensure an effective stretch.  Dual tension straps allow for increased dorsiflexion, giving an overall improved foot angle for an optimum stretch.

These braces are lightweight and low profile and are made of a sturdy but breathable material that provides treatment while you wear the brace.  The open toe feature is designed to keep your feet cool and dry.

Cramer Dorsal Night Splint

This night splint is a little more unique as it provides an anterior dorsal clamshell support that holds the foot in a neutral position throughout the night. The purpose of this is to support the arch and to promote healing of the fascia through pressure relief.  

The design of this splint places the hard backing brace on the anterior (front) aspect of your foot, which is also called the dorsum of your foot.  Many reviewers of this style of splint enjoy the extra mobility it allows without compromising the stretch it provides to the foot. Less bulky than the traditional posterior night splint, this splint is reported to be more comfortable and has less heat retention than typical night splint boots.

Futuro Night Plantar Fasciitis Sleep Foot Support

The Futuro night splint is designed with a low-profile support, soft breathable straps and cushioned edges for a comfortable fit.  In reading the reviews for this brace, it wasn’t difficult to find cases where people experienced relief in as little as one week after wearing the brace.  This reflects the consistent research that shows the short-term effectiveness of wearing a night brace.

Some of the negative reviews were based on the durability of the foot brace.  This seems like a challenge because durability on a soft brace that is worn night after night may be compromised with extended use.

Alphabrace Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint

The Alphabrace is a low profile night splint that uses 3 velcro straps to position the foot into a dorsiflexed position to maximize a stretch to the calf and plantar fascia.  Similar to other braces, the top reviews on this brace reported decreased morning heel pain after a few nights of wearing the brace. Others commented on the affordability of the brace as this currently can be purchased for less than $20.  

The negative reviews were similar to other braces, stating how the brace can feel awkward and bulky at night.  Regardless of the night splint, it will probably feel like you’re wearing snow boots to bed, so finding a night splint with good padding and supports may help you get through the night.

Vive Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint

The Vive soft night splint is a soft, boot style splint that also includes a foot massage ball with purchase.  The key benefits of this splint are the removable and adjustable foam stretch wedges that allow you to customize the intensity of the stretch that you feel.  The entire splint is padded with a soft lining and is removable so you can wash the covering.

Positive reviews are similar to other night splints, reporting relief in as little as the next morning, but full results after a few weeks of wearing the brace.  This brace appears to have the most positive reviews regarding the comfortability of the splint, which matter if you’re not getting sleep due to the bulkiness of a brace!

Conclusion: Should I Use a Night Splint?

As a Physical Therapist, I’ve recommended night splints to my patients who are looking for an additional means to treat their painful feet.

My personal opinion is that active stretches and exercises in combination with proper footwear and supportive orthotics can really help someone beat plantar fasciitis.  

I hope you find relief with your feet and found this review of night splints to be helpful!