Podiatrists and Their Toys

Everyone has their toys. When you were a child it was GI-Joe, Barbie, or Tonka. The older you became, the more expensive your toys became. Professionals have toys. Your construction worker, engineer, teacher, and physician all have toys that assist them in their work. Your Podiatrist, believe it or not, has toys as well. For example, the plantar fascia night splint. It is a toy that many in the profession will utilize in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. The biggest question most people have is: How does it work? Let me enlighten you.

Quick Review:

The plantar fascia is a band of tissue, or ligament, which runs the length of your foot: from your heel out to the ball of your foot. Its a continuation of the Achilles tendon as it wraps around the back of your heel. Its main function is to reform the arch after each step.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory response from chronic stretching of the plantar fascia at the heel. Certain foot types, such as a flatfoot, tend to increase ones risk of developing this painful and often debilitating condition.

There are many conservative treatment options: shoe inserts, stretching, icing, steroid injections, and night splints.

Night Splint Function:

The purpose of the night splint is to keep your ankle at a 90 degree angle, thereby keeping a constant tension on your plantar fascia and keeping it in a stretched position. Without the night splint, your arch will relax during the night and thus relax the plantar fascia. Your first step in the morning will be painful because you are now stretching the plantar fascia that had been contracted all night. That causes pain until you have sufficiently stretched it out. Yes it may be a little bulky, but it can help alleviate pain. These toys often dont work because the patient cant tolerate wearing it all night. Talk with you podiatrist on whats right for you.

If you have heel pain and are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, please consider a utilizing toy that is recommended by your podiatrist. If you have any foot or ankle pain and are in need of someone to care for you, please pick up the phone and call Dr. Bowman at 713-467-8886 or visit us online.

Category: Heel Pain

Tags: heel Pain, Night Splint, Plantar Fasciitis