Customer Reviews

Form Fit PLANTAR FASCITIS Night SPLINT SMALL

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

*** I'm putting this review on all sizes of this product, sorry for any redundancy. I'm hoping it will be helpful for anyone considering it ***

I have been wearing this splint for about a month now to combat a pretty severe case of plantar fasciitis and want to update you on the effectiveness and my experience with it. My plantar fasciitis was caused primarily by weighing too darn much, plus moving into a house with mostly hardwood floors and walking around barefoot/in socks without foot support. I had never heard of the injury until it was too late.

First of all the product. I started out with the medium size based on my shoe size but my toes stuck out over the edge and my foot felt kind of squished so I switched to the large. My foot size is "around" 10 or so, I would suggest going to the large if you have any question.

How I adjusted the straps. The top strap keeps the thing from sliding up and down and as such I have that one somewhat tight. The middle strap (goes kind of over your ankle) is important in that it keeps your foot in the proper position. If too loose, your foot can position so that the ligament is not stretched properly and can tighten overnight. So I tighten this strap as much as comfortable so that my ankle can't bend and separate from the device much. If you find you can point your toes downward, then this strap is probably too loose. The bottom strap (over the top of your foot) is not as important in positioning as long as the middle ankle strap is correct, and I have that one quite loose. The bottom one if too tight is very uncomfortable and cuts off circulation in my case. As far as the side straps, pull them tighter to increase the stretch, generally just a gentle stretch is all you need. If you change these side straps much, you will need to adjust the other 3. This is just what finally worked fairly comfortably and effectively for me, your experience might be different. I definitely agree it does take some getting used to.

Effectiveness - I had immediate relief for that "first step" in the morning. I was able get out of bed and walk normally where before using this product I was hopping around on my good foot for about 5 minutes. I could not put any weight at all on my bad foot. My foot pain was not entirely gone, but felt just "normal" as though it was during the day. I also now have orthotics designed for plantar fasciitis in every pair of shoes/slippers I own (fortunately I am male so that is not many ;-)..) and am very careful not to walk on any non-cushioned surface without these orthotics.

Is my injury "fixed"? Not yet. I think if I were to go a night without this splint I would still be in a lot of pain in the morning. So this has reduced/eliminated that problem but I still have to wear it and of course the goal is a "cure" and no longer needing to wear it. I have a feeling that overall my problem is improving, and if I continue to wear the orthotics and use this product it MIGHT over time go away. It took a long time to get the injury and I'm just trying to be patient in my self-treatment of it. At some point I may see a podiatrist but for right now this is sufficient.

I'll update this review if I have any major breakthroughs.

In the meantime, I would recommend it highly at least for relief of morning pain.

***** Update 9/28/10. My foot has been feeling better so tried a couple nights without the splint. It wasn't as bad as before (about like after an hour or two nap) but gradually worsened. I started wearing it again and better in the morning and all day. Just have to be PATIENT I guess. But the goal is to not hurt/injure the foot so anything which prevents pain is important. Just not ready to stop wearing it yet. But I'm hoping soon with the other steps, not quite yet. Still keeping up with the orthotics.

***** Update 11/18/10 (last one). I think I've reached the break-even point where the inconvenience of the splint (although not bad) outweighs the benefit I get. At most 10 to 15 seconds of stretch is all I need now in the morning to be quite comfortable and now I'm also quite comfortable all day. I still use and will continue using inserts (plus have lost 23 lbs, yay, 44 more to go). But for now I consider my plantar fasciitis if not cured, at least very livable and tolerable. I expect it to continue to improve still.

Was this product worth it? It certainly helped with the extreme discomfort and for that I would definitely recommend it. I'm not sure that it helped with my (near) cure, but it certainly wasn't a good thing to allow that ligament to tighten up so badly every night. I'm fairly convinced that the overnight stretch did at least speed the process. If you can stand to wear it, I would say it is definitely worth it.

Just got these and ordered a Small because the description states that "Small" fits up to women's size 7-1/2. NOT TRUE! I wear a 7 or 7-1/2 depending on the shoe maker and style and the "Small" size DOES NOT fit! In fact, the brace is so short all but the last two toes hang over. According to the diagram that came with the brace, your entire foot (including toes) should fit on the sole.

With a condition of plantar fasciitis, the toes should not be able to be bent downward while wearing this brace. In all exercises I've seen for this condition, you pull the toes FORWARD while rubbing and stretching the bottom of the foot. So this problem is somewhat of a "Big Deal". So if you ladies wear a size 7 or 7-1/2, the "Medium" size is what you want.

I believe the "Small" would only fit only up to a women's size 6-1/2! So take care when ordering.

On a good note, I did find the padding soft and comfortable. Will update later when the correct size is received and I have had an opportunity to actually know how effectual these braces are.

I first tried the Futuro splint because I happened to find it in a local CVS. That design was basically worthless so I tried the Bird & Cronin splint and found it to be much more effective than the Futuro over-the-top splint. I find the B&C splint to be comfortably padded and very much like the fact that it is adjustable. The company obviously understands that the one-size-fits-"most" leaves a portion of the population unhelped (Futuro should learn that lesson!) so it was a relief to find a splint that comes in various sizes AND is adjustable. Unlike the rather worthless Futuro splint, this B&C splint allows you to adjust the degree of stretch by tightening or loosening two Velcro straps. Another nice feature of this splint is the fact that once you find comfortable adjustments on the three across-the-leg/foot straps, you can keep them at that adjustment because the straps have buckles. You may have to make adjustments, for example, in response to thickness of fabric if you wear it over clothes but that would be only if you want to wear the brace quite snugly, which is not needed. I initially adjusted it too snugly and with too much of a stretch and found it uncomfortable after several hours. Once I loosened things up, the discomfort went away. Now, if I wake up in advance, I try to remember to increase the stretch an hour or less before I actually have to get up. I can't sleep comfortably at the increased stretch but for short durations it seems extra helpful. Unfortunately, because the splint DOES work, I find it difficult to go without it because everything begins to tighten up again shortly after removing it. Oh, but to walk pain-free when I first get up is nice! Unfortunately, that doesn't last. No fault of the splint but a sure sign that it's going to be a long time healing. Because my job is 90% sedentary, I've taken to frequently wearing the splint while I'm working. (No, you are NOT supposed to walk with the splint on. I confess that I do walk a bit with it on. I just try very hard not to put excess stress on the splint when I do so. It makes for very awkward walking but if I'm only going a very short distance, I take my chances.) The padding is attached securely with Velcro which means it can be removed for hand-washing -- thankfully! lol The splint has definitely been helpful. Time will tell how durable it is (notwithstanding my naughty walking with it on) but the price is quite reasonable so as long as it lasts a year, I'll consider it a good investment. I would have given it 4-1/2 stars if I could but I can't, so I 'erred' on the side of conservativeness because I don't know how durable it will be. I do recommend it for anyone suffering from plantar fascitis/fasciosis but I caution that it's not necessary to adjust the straps tightly. If you try this splint and find it is causing you discomfort, loosen up the straps, the stretch, or both. You can always work to a greater stretch with time and patience but it will be useless if you push things too far or too fast and cause additional discomfort that deters you from wearing the splint. Also remember that a night splint is only one tool in the management of PF. You should be doing other things to help your condition, like stretches (bent knee and straight) and exercises like toe "scrunches," periodically throughout the day. Wishing everyone happier, healthier feet!

I have a bad heel spur/plantar fasciitis that started in spring of 2009. I held off going to the Dr. for a year. I have tried a steroid shot and a prescription anti-inflammatory for 6 months with little relief. I looked into a night splint from the Dr. but was unwilling to pay $300 for something I wasn't sure I would even wear. After a lot of internet research I came across this one and loved the price and the reviews I found. My heel pain is so much better and it is not that difficult to sleep in the splint. I wish I would have done this 6 months ago and avoided the shot and meds.

I need to make sure that the straps are not too tight though. I love the fact that once you set the velcro in place you can use the plastic tabs and not have to mess with the velcro setting. I also like the fact that you can adjust the degree of stretch. I like to add some stretch while watching TV.

I am a size 6 1/2 and the small splint fits perfectly.

I bought this device for my wife, whom has suffered greatly from plantar fascitis (sp?). She's an avid athlete and never had the patience to give her feet a break from running and other activities. She recently ran in an USMC Mud Run and could hardly walk afterwards due to the plantar fascitis. After this, she commissioned me to research and buy something to help her.
I bought this brace and it arrived in about 3 days. When she opened the box, she laughed laughed out loud because of the ridiculous thought of wearing this ski-boot-look-a-like around the house and to bed. She has worn it for about 2 - 3 hours per night for roughly 8 - 10 nights. She said that after the first 2-3 hours, it began to bother her foot to the point she couldn't sleep.
Already, she is not experiencing any discomfort from the plantar fascitis. She has continued running and working out without any pain.

THE RESULT: This brace has dramatically helped my wife from the point of hobbling around to feeling no pain. I'm only sorry we didn't buy something sooner....

The splint is well-constructed and surprisingly lightweight for the size. I'm not comfortable sleeping in it, but I wear it during the day when I'm working at the computer. It's made a huge difference. I can walk without limping, even first thing in the morning, and my pain has greatly decreased. I would recommend ordering one size up if you're close to the size limit. My foot is a women's 6.5B. The small is supposed to fit up to a women's 7.5, but my toes hang a bit over the edge. Overall, it's a quality product.

I purchased 2 of these splints when my plantar fasciitis flared up so bad that the burning in my heels was keeping me awake at night. I used this splint (along with 2 other items), and within a couple weeks I can FINALLY sleep again.

The splint is extremely well made, light, comfortable, gives a serious (but fully adjustable) stretch, slides underneath the covers easily, doesn't scratch or bother my husband while we sleep, and the padded straps don't rub or scratch me, no matter how long it's on. Really, I can't say a single negative thing about the splint itself!

I prefer an extreme stretch, so I can't sleep with it on for more than a few hours, BUT this has NOTHING to do with the splint. Any splint for PF will place unusual pressure on some part of the leg or foot; there's just no way around it. This brace places pressure on the forefoot-- particularly if you like an extreme stretch, as I do-- and this creates a pressure point on the ball of my foot. I could loosen the stretch, and sleep easily, but I've found this uneccesary. In case you're suffering from heel pain like I was, here's what worked for me--

I use this splint several hours a day, most days, while I'm sedentary, and I crank up the stretch as far as it will go. At night, I wear adjustable arch bandages (actually, my feet are tiny, so I use futuro wrist bandages instead) to keep my arches gently stretched while I sleep. The biggest help, however, has been Orthaheel shoes-- I bought a cheap, used pair to try them out first, and I had IMMEDIATE RELIEF that very first night. I found my Sketcher Shape-Ups (which I once loved) seriously aggravated the condition. Wearing them just once set me back almost a week in progress, by allowing me to overpronate even more, so I got rid of them. Lastly, in the beginning, Alleve (only one tab) was the only thing that would get me through the night, because everything else wore off too quickly.

Hope this helps. If you're wanting to stretch your arches and calves, don't hesitate to buy these! Worth every penny!

This product is exactly as described. I had severe pain from planter fascitis every morning for months. I wear this every night and wake up pain free-really remarkable!

I've had plantar fasciitis in both feet for 3 years, tried cortisone shots, ice, stretches, tennis ball, with no luck. Bought those other type booties with the velcro strap that pulls the toes up, they not only made my feet hot because they were enclosed, they jammed my toes together causing my toenails to cut into each other. In desperation and to avoid surgery I bought this based on the ratings and am happy I did. The first night almost all the pain was gone when I got up in the morning. I had only bought one initially to try but it worked so well I got another. It has plenty of ventilation so your feet don't sweat, and has soft foam padding against your skin. Easy to adjust and buckle. The bottom has a rubber sole so I don't have to remove them on bathroom trips. Wouldn't advise stairs or prolonged walking however. The smooth plastic slides around under the sheets and really doesn't bother me when I turn. Between these and stair stretches I am finally feeling relief. It is taking weeks but definitely is much better and I hope to be cured in a while. My best wishes to everyone who suffers from this condition, it has a very big impact on lifestyle.

Ordered this on physician's instructions. Read Amazon reviews to arrive at this model, and you guys are right again!! I've worn it for nearly a month now and I can get up and WALK in the morning! Plantar fasciitis is not fun, and this splint does what it is advertised to do. It is a bit clunky wearing it in bed, but you get used to it, especially in the morning when the pain is gone. The fasteners rub a bit, but a pair of socks with it helps. It is OK for quick trips to the door (let pets in/out) and other short in-home nighttime excursions, despite the warning against walking in it per the directions. Thank you again, Amazon reviewers! I always trust my fellow Amazonians.