Orthotics or night splints for plantar fasciitis treatment?

Here’s the latest research, published in the journal Foot and Ankle,  showing foot orthoses are effective in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Patients had better outcomes, better compliance and fewer side effects when using foot orthoses than when using night splints.   I’ve treated thousands of patients with plantar fasciitis in our Seattle clinic over the past 18 years and this study correlates well with my findings.

Foot and Ankle International
AUGUST 2006 Number 08

Foot Orthoses for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Ewa Roos, Ph.D., P.T.; Mikael Engström, B.Sc., C.P.O.; Bengt Söderberg, B.Sc., C.P.O.
Lund, Sweden

ABSTRACT

Background: The literature suggests mechanical interventions such as foot orthoses and night splints are effective in reducing pain from plantar fasciitis. There is, however, a lack of controlled trials. We studied the effects of foot orthoses and night splints, alone or combined, in a prospective, randomized trial with 1-year followup. Methods: Forty-three patients (34 women and nine men with a mean age of 46 years) with plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive foot orthoses (n = 13), foot orthoses and night splints (n = 15), or night splints alone (n = 15). Data were available for 34 (79%) patients after treatment (12 weeks), and for 38 (88%) at 1-year followup. Pain, functional limitations, and quality of life were evaluated with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score. Results: All groups improved significantly in all outcomes evaluated across all times (p < 0.04). At 12 weeks, pain reduction of 30% to 50% compared to baseline were seen (p < 0.03). At 52 weeks, pain reduction of 62% was seen in the two groups using foot orthoses compared to 48% in the night splint only group (p < 0.01). Better compliance and fewer side effects were reported for orthosis use. At 12 months, 19 of 23 patients reported still using foot orthoses compared to 1 of 28 still using the night splint. Conclusions: Foot orthoses and anterior night splints were effective both short-term and long-term in treating pain from plantar fasciitis. Parallel improvements in function, foot-related quality of life, and a better compliance suggest that a foot orthosis is the best choice for initial treatment plantar fasciitis.