Customer Reviews

Swede-O Deluxe Padded Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint, Colors May Vary

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've been suffering from serious plantar fascitis for nearly a year. I've use various therapies (custom orthotics, stretching, ice massage and even cortisone shots)and am finding it very difficult to resolve. Even though my doctor didn't tell me to use a night splint I decided to try it anyway. Even after the FIRST NIGHT I noticed a difference! I am convinced that, without a splint, I was re-injuring my foot every morning when I got out of bed on my tight foot. Now I feel like I just may be able to heal!

There's lots of talk about whether this device is "comfortable." It's a big, stiff boot velcroed to your leg-- just how "comfortable" do you expect it to be? It takes some getting used to, but the results are absolutely worth any (minor) discomfort or inconvenience. I also strongly recommend wearing it not only at night but also when resting around the house (watching TV, etc.) This is not a substitute for other aspects of PF therapy, but I find it a worthwhile addition. I also highly recommend this particular model.

Since it supposedly takes six months for plantar fasciitis to heal, I can't speak to that as I've only had the splint for about a week. And I can't give it 5 stars b/c this is the only splint I've ever tried.

But...I can say that it's very comfortable. I followed the advice of another reviewer and ordered a size smaller than what the company claims. I wear a woman's size 8, which the company claims is a medium, but I bought the small, and it fits well.

Sure, it feels lik you have something on your foot and leg, but it's quite comfortable. It doesn't keep me up at night, and I have no trouble turning around in bed.

I still have pain during the day, but the severe pain upon taking the first few steps in the morning is gone whenever I wear the splint.

I have to admit, I was very skeptical about this type of product. How could this splint help excrutiating heel pain I had for 3 months? Physical therapy and exercises only succeeded in making what started out as a few painful first steps out of bed into a constantly painful heel condition. I remained very active on my hobby farm, but walking was a chore..not something I looked forward to anymore. I limped all the time; I finally decided to try this splint since other people had similar devices prescribed, and the cost was approximately the cost of a copay for a specialist. I was amazed with the results! I noticed some relief after only two nights...noticeable relief after a week. After two weeks, along with ibuprofen once or twice a day, the difference is extraordinary. Two suggestions: If you are 10 to 10-1/2, order the size that fits 9-1/2 (another user's suggestion as well). It works fine, and is more manageable in size. Wear a cotton athletic sock on the foot that is treated, changing it every night. It allows ventilation, wicks moisture, keeps the splint clean, makes the splint more comfortable. Oh,... you can take a few steps in this splint if you need to make a short trip during the night.

I bought this night splint because of the reviews I found on Amazon. There are 2 issues that made this splint unwearable for me. The first is that the sizes are off. Mine was way too big for me, so if you are considering this splint be sure to order a size small. Because of that issue my foot was not stablized during the night. I had to constantly push my foot down to the bottom of the splint, even then my leg would slide up. I made the straps as tight as I could but it did little to alleviate the problem. The second issue is the bulk of the splint. I would get so frustrated during the night trying to move to my side or back. I would end up kicking it off in the middle of the night just so I could go back to sleep.

It does work if you can get over the bulkiness of the splint, but I just couldn't. It is comfortable, even moreso I am sure if it fits properly. I am going to try switching to something I can actually wear all night long.

I've been using this product for just about a month and it is big and bulky, but didn't take long to adjust to sleeping while wearing it.

I work on my feet for 9 hours a day, so by mid-day my foot is really hurting regardless of if I had slept in the splint the night before or not. But I don't get that first jolt of pain when I take my first steps in the morning when I use it.

I am starting to see a bit of wear and tear on the middle strap, but the other 2 are holding strong.

I took the advice of other buyers and bought a smaller size than recommended and it's a perfect fit.

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May 2010 update:

It worked for me... plain and simple. I am now totally pain free from the plantar fasciitis. It took a while... 9 months to a year of sleeping in this splint, but doing that, and doing the recommended stretches has completely fixed my problem. For me, this splint + a lot of patience = cured!

I have suffered from plantar fasciitis for 2 years. I have tried every treatment out there including custom orthotics, stretching exercises, all kinds of new shoes and inserts, deep tissue massage, cortisone shots, physical therapy, iontophoresis, and most recently I spent several months in a cast. My plantar fasciitis progressed to a partial rupture of the plantar fascia and ultimately I wound up with a calcaneal stress fracture, which is what put me in the cast.

After I came out of the cast, my doctor wanted me to continue to wear the cast at night, however, it was extremely heavy and bulky and got all twisted up in the sheets. He suggested a night splint instead, explaining that the splint (or cast) keeps the plantar fascia in a continuous flexed position which allows healing to occur. I did not understand that the plantar fascia continues to get tight again otherwise and that the stretching must take place continuously.

I found this splint to be WAY more comfortable than the cast. When I wore the cast, if I was lucky, I could stand it until about 4 in the morning at which point I ripped it off and flung it to the floor because my foot was so sweaty and uncomfortable. I found the splint to be extremely light weight and I am able to move around in the sheets much more easily.

I do wear it for a quick trip to the bathroom during the night, but it is not durable enough to be worn around the house.

The bottom line is that I think it is really helping. As soon as I get up in the morning, I take it off and immediately go into some stretches. Amazingly my foot feels pretty good. It has only been a week so far that I've been wearing it, but I must say that for the first time in two years I am beginning to see some improvement, however slight.

I would definitey recommend this splint for anyone considering a night splint as an option for treatment for plantar fasciitis. I do wear a sock with it to minimize sweating (it is kind of like wearing a sneaker without a sock otherwise) and I did order a size smaller which seems to be fine.

This splint is of good quality and is fairly comfortable. The challenge is that doesn't really keep the best position for me. I do agree with some other reviewers that noted that the sizes run a bit large. I had intended on buying the size the company noted, but I did go down a size. In fact, I could have gone down two sizes. My foot does turn and slip in the boot. I solved this by adding a bit of padding. While I think this split is more comfortable than others, it doesn't really keep a good stretch for me. I have also tried the "toe-pullers" without success. My new plan is to use this splint, incorporate exercises and wear my custom orthotics. I believe a combination is the best solution.

I've had Plantar Fasciitis for nearly a year and have tried numerous treatments including ice. A month ago, I decided it was time to try a night splint.
Unlike a lot of the previous posters, I ACTUALLY LISTENED, and bought mine a size smaller than was recommended and it fits great. I wear a size 9.5 and the medium works fine. MAKE SURE YOU ORDER A SIZE SMALLER THAN THEY RECOMMEND. If I had bought a large my foot would be swimming in there.
Now for the Review: It's been one month(4 weeks) of me wearing the splint every night, and I also quit jogging 4 weeks ago as well.
I can tell you THIS SPLINT WORKS GREAT. The pain in the mornings is gone completely!!!!My PF pain has gone from severe to mild to moderate in 4 weeks!!!!!!!! The excruciating pain is gone!!!!
I still feel a mild pain during the day but the pain is nowhere near what is used to be.
The key has been to wear it every night and also quit running and working out on the bad foot until it completely heals.
I'll give it another 4 weeks and update this posting.

The velcro is wider than the strap it attaches to, snags and scratches every time I wear it. Typically comes loose throughout the night. Doesn't really fit tight enough to hold foot in place. Center strap is oddly placed doesn't really hold foot in. I do notice some mild relief after wearing it but I think a better fitting, more elevating splint would do a better job. Too bad at this price! Not worth the money.

The last night splint I had was really painful, caused a neuroma between my toes, and I would always rip it off in the middle of the night because my feet fell asleep. So I bought this Swede-O based on reviews and tried it out.

First, it's very comfortable, unlike my other one. I could wear it all night with no discomfort. However, it's too loose in the foot area. You can tighten the straps around the calf but not the foot. My foot was swimming in there. Consequently, it didn't hold me firmly enough and in the morning I have the same pain I do without a night splint.

So comfort is one thing ... but if it has no effect on my plantar fasciitis pain what good is it really?

Like other reviewers I bought a smaller size than their sizing chart would recommend and it fits just fine.