Most Helpful Customer Reviews
95 of 102 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I did my own comparison and found.., March 1, 2009
I really had a tough time deciding which splint I should purchase but stuck with FootSmart's Passive Night Splint which is what my Podiatrist recommended. Since BOTH my feet were painful and not wanted to deplete my bank account, I borrowed another type from a friend of mine who had problem a few years ago, and decided to do my own test- a different splint on each foot. The borrowed splint was THERMOSKIN's Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint, which looks like an Ace bandage with an adjustable toe stretch/lift. I will call FootSmart 'F' and Thermoskin T. F is soft and lightweight and because of the serious look of it I felt it would be a more aggesive approach to healing;sort of like a cast. I am a size 8.5 but purchased a Medium and am glad I did. It was easy to figure out how to put it on. I have no problem sleeping with it on because I do not tuck the covers in on the bottom of the bed, so I can turn and twist with no problem. PROS? Sure enough, within a week I was feeling better in that foot. Not 100% for sure, but the first morning jaunt to the bathroom is not a crippler! I was optomistic that by stretching it out every night, the fascia would be able to heal and it has been improving each day. CONS? F comes with a hard foam rubber insert so you can add extra lift for your toes. It is not enough. There is too much room between the bottom of the shoe and the toe's velcroe strap so my foot moves around too much. One night my foot fell out of the top strap. I took 2 folded terry wash cloths and put them under the ball of my foot and that seemed to do the trick, although occasionally the cloths fall out. Don't forget I purchased a smaller size than I wear, wear a thick sock and strap the velcro as tight as I possiblly can. T was sort of a pathetic looking contraption and I was not as optomistic with the seriouness of the appearance. Since it is half the price of the F brand, I figured since you get what you pay for it would not be as effective! Guess Madison Avenue has done its damage on me! PROS: T is easy to put on and adjusts very easily and quickly. It is much less cumbersome as F. It stays on all night and with an athletic sock on is actually quite comfortable. It FEELS secure and I can actually feel a little tug in the muscle of my foot for a few minutes after putting it on. Not pain, just a gentle good tug. It worked as good as the F in taking the pain away. Again, not overnight cure but a gradual decrease every morning. CONS: The velcro 'overhang' gets attached to my other F boot or pajamas if not velcroed to itself to prevent it from happening. A very easy fix for sure. BOTTOM LINE? I prefer T to F. T is cheaper, less cumbersome and therefore less noticible during the night, more toe lift, no fussing with stuffing homemade lifts into it, and it streches the fascia better that F. Both have made a difference and the pain has improved, but I would go for the cheaper of the products for sure. T can be hand washed easily in the sink...not sure HOW I will launder F, I will have to dig the directions out. Note: I still go to the Podiatrist who is speeding the healing along with an ultrasonic device. He originally recommended the F splint and will give me an injection of Cortisone if it does not improve to my satisfaction. I am trying to avoid that! I also do Monkey toe grip exercises- picking up cloths with my toes, and keep a can beneath my desk at work to roll back and forth with my socked feet during the day. I also purchased a new pair of shoes- I bought Dansko Professionals which give my arch the correct support. My podiatrist also gave me inserts for my sneakers which feel great. It is a multi-faceted approach to healing which I am committed to doing since this is NOT a fun ailment and I cannot wait for the day it is just a bad memory. Hope this recommendation helped. Good luck.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Relief, June 30, 2009
I have been plagued by plantar fasciitis for a few years now. It comes and goes depending largely on the amount of running I am doing, such as marathon training or just basic maintenance running, and flares during sandal season when I am less likely to have good arch support shoe (sandals!) and ones that make it tricky to wear an orthotic or other arch support product. I have determined that a multifaceted approach to handling plantar fasciitis is best. A key part of that is wearing some sort of splint at night.
I originally bought a sock splint. Same concept as the thermoskin one, but with a knee-high nylon sock. I hated it. It was tight, like wearing a nylon knee-high to bed each night. So I tried the thermoskin product instead.
I am pleased. I have found wearing the splint each night to make a huge difference in allowing the plantar faciitis condition to heal, or at least minimize. This is conjunction with shoes that provide excellent arch support or inserting orthotic supplements into my shoes and sandals.
My only dislike of the product is that the thermoskin material makes my foot sweat. Some nights, I have to take it off because the dampness of my foot is discomforting. I suppose keeping the muscles warm is part of the healing solution, but I think it would be ideal to make this product in a lighter, more sock-like material.
This product is a terrific addition to helping heal and resolve plantar fasciitis. It has provided me with an enormous amount of relief and I will continue to use this product. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Thermoskin Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bad fit, very painful at night, December 22, 2006
I woke up repeatedly in the night with more pain that the Plantars Faciitis was giving me for the following reasons:
-The front part of the sock device is extremely narrow. I don't have wide feet, but the pointy ends crowded by toes and caused cramps that I had to adjust for constantly. Could never get used to it.
-The strap around the ankle was too stiff and chaffed. Took forever to find the right tightness that didn't cause my feet to swell painfully in the night while not being so loose that it moved and chafed horribly.
-Honestly, even wearing a hard plastic brace was easier for me to sleep with.
A simple strap that supported the arch and wrapped over the instep has been the most effective, along with faithfully wearing the arch supports during the day.
Don't waste your money.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2115|R3NPHK63AQF117;2115|R1ILNLC8537D6H;2115|R1HXTFBY6UUY2G;
|
