Night Splints Improve Common Cause of Heel Pain

Plantar fasciopathy, also known as plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Plantar fasciopathy is the tearing, inflammation and eventual degeneration of the plantar fascia, a long ligament type structure which supports the arch. The condition is characterized by intense pain at the bottom of the heel, particularly at the first step in the morning and affects about two million Americans each year. Common treatments include stretching, icing, periods of rest, steroid injections, taping, night splints and orthotics. Night splints, designed to hold the ankle in a dorsiflexed position and keep the plantar fascia stretched out during the night, have been shown to be an effective treatment. [ ... full blog post ]