Are you suffering from heel pain? Do you feel a sharp pain in your foot when you get up in the morning as you’ve stepped on a Lego? Then, You might be suffering from plantar fasciitis. Wearing a night splint is highly recommended and home use treatment guide for this condition.
Although your feet and ankles have a far greater capacity to absorb shock, a long-term injury may lead to inflammation. Plantar fasciitis is usually familiar with those who lack mobility within the big toe or ankle, weakness in the ankle, or a combo of all three.
So you might question what plantar fasciitis is?
Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of fascia at the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia. It occurs at the point where the heel attaches to the soft tissues. It produces a sharp stabbing sensation on the arch of the foot.
The stabbing pain flares up when you intend to stand after sitting for some time. After movement and limbering for quite some time, the pain eases a bit on its own.
What are the causes of Plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is caused by repeated, sustained stress and strain on the heel. It can be due to heavy weightlifting while you walk, climb, run and do routine house chores.
Other high-risk condition involves;
- middle age
- Repeated trauma to the foot
- Gender; women > men
- The job that demands prolonged standing
- An athletic injury that occurs in runners
- Recurrence of plantar fasciitis
- Those who have stiff muscles
- Posture is a significant player when it comes to aches and pains. The muscles become deconditioned over time which eventually impacts how we hold our body. Muscle joints will have sustained stretch on them, causing wear and tear in them.
- Obesity is the primary cause. It puts increased weight on the joints resulting in faster degeneration when the bone ends rub against each other with friction.
What are the aggravating factors of plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia that causes pain under the heel. It is related to 10% of running injuries. Pain starts from the heel that goes down to the mid arch. It can be sometimes related to heel spur, which is a bony outgrowth at the plantar fascia.
Aggravating factors can be;
- foot shape
- increased body weight
- repetitive ankle eversion
- prolonged standing
- high arches
- age
- gender (women)
- tight muscles, including calves and Achilles tendons
- degeneration
- limited ability.
- It can also be related to some other autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis and gout etc.
Do wearing shoes and high heels cause Plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis can also be caused by the type of shoes you are wearing, including ultra-high heels that raise the foot’s arch causing the abnormal angle, which disturbs the stability and causes stress on your mid arch.
- Flat shoes do not support arches of the feet; the plantar fascia cannot distribute the weight and causes distorted movements without proper support of arches. the feet get flattened and cause this irritated condition.
- Old shoes that are worn often do not support the foot’s arches that cause stress on the heel and arches that may result in abnormal gait.
- New shoes can be challenging to wear as old shoes often cause heel pain and heel cracks because the heel of the foot touches the sole that causes intense pain in the heel and results in an abnormal walking pattern.
- Bare feet can also be the cause of plantar fasciitis. During walking barefoot, your feet contact uneven surfaces that disturb the anatomy of arches which cause pain in heels.
- The pressure against the big toe is a simulation of narrow and tight shoes. Some shoes differ in the size of the box, flexibility, and height of the platform.
- The change in foot physiology with high heels, barefoot shoes, or shoes with different sole thickness were not tested for!
- Suppose the user is not moving and standing still for an extended period. There will be pooling of blood In the foot that can also trigger inflammation.
Interventions to reduce plantar fasciitis
It can be treated and prevented at home. With minor lifestyle changes and modifications, better results can be achieved within a short period.
- You need to rest and support your feet; night splints can do this.
- During this time, the therapeutic exercise of leg and foot will help bring blood to the tissues
- Ice bath or cryotherapy helps reduce inflammation
- Use night splints whenever you feel pain in your heel or the arch of your foot.
- Wear shoes that support the heel and cushion arch of your foot to minimize stress
- Wear therapeutic shoes, do not walk barefoot if you have plantar fascitis
- Keep your body weight under BMI, and being overweight puts increased stress and strain on your muscles.
Treat Plantar fasciitis while you sleep with night splints:
Night Splints put a grip on your foot, keeping it in a position that gently stretches the plantar fascia and calf muscles while you sleep. It reduces the painful tightening. While you sleep, your feet are in a natural plantar flexion position. In other words, your feet are pointing downwards. This puts a lot of tension in your Achilles tendon and causes calf muscles to shorten in length over time.
Night splints work like magic in this situation, and it keeps your foot in dorsiflexion position throughout the night. It prevents the progressive shortening of tendon and muscles, preventing you from plantar fasciitis.
How do night splints ease pain in plantar fasciitis?
It is built in a way to keep your foot in a stable dorsiflexion position. The strap provides continuous compression on the foot, stretching from the ankle to the toes.Night splints consist of adjustable straps that can be lengthened and shortened according to your foot type and level of comfort.
Benefits of night splints:
If you want to apply an appropriate stretch on your foot, night splints are the best option for plantar fasciitis. It provides a sustained stretch for a prolonged period throughout the night.
- It saves you from the dreadful pain that you experience in the morning while getting out of bed.
- Night splints are made of soft material, giving a light, airy feel to the foot.
- It is relatively adjustable.
- It gives proper grip to the bottom of your foot, so there is less risk of slipping at night.
- Night Splints is lightweight and comfortable so that you can wear it for a more extended period, thus increasing the healing time.
- Prevents shortening of muscles and tendons.
FAQs:
What condition does the night splints treat?
The night splints aid in treating the plantar fasciitis, calcaneal spur, and Achilles tendonitis.
How does the night splint work?
It maintains the dorsiflexion throughout the night, thus keeping it in 90-degree flexion, which minimizes the stress on your foot.
When is the best time to wear night splints for plantar fasciitis?
The best time to wear night splints is during sleep and nap time as it keeps the foot in the rightful position, making the healing faster. However, it is not intended to wear when walking long distances.
Takeaway:
Plantar Fasciitis can be dangerous if not treated, but it is curable through preventive measures, life modification, and different therapeutic methods involving splints and braces.
The to-go method is night splints as it provides warm, safe, and pleasant services, thus eradicating the excruciating pain and healing your foot in a short period.
Getting a good night’s sleep and waking up without stabbing pain in your feet is the ultimate treatment goal of a night splint for plantar fasciitis