Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint Review: Which One is Right For You

For most people suffering from plantar fasciitis, one of the tried and trusted ways of helping get rid of the pain is sleeping with a plantar fasciitis night splint. Night splints provide a cost-efficient, easy way of dealing with the pain, leaving most patients with a refreshed feel in the morning.

Here at Mars Wellness we sell 3 variations of plantar fasciitis night splints: a posterior night splint, a dorsal night splint, and a Baker night splint. The most common question we receive from customers is which one is right for them. Here’s our short answer:

Posterior Night Splint

The earliest version of the night splint, this variation is still the most popular option for most customers. It’s easy to use, and while it can take up to a week to get used to wearing it, once you do get used to it, you will undoubtedly experience relief from the great stretch of the plantar fascia it provides over the course of the night.

Pros: Easy to use; provides significant stretch of the plantar fascia which ultimately heals plantar fasciitis quickest; inexpensive

Cons: Can be uncomfortable for first week or so; some find it cumbersome to put on themselves if suffering pain in right foot; Bulky

Dorsal Night Splint

The dorsal night splint is a much lighter version of the night splint. Rather than a plastic shell, the dorsal only has a layer of plastic across the front. The foot is held in place by straps across the back of the lower leg and foot. It is much easier to sleep in a dorsal night splint, however, some people don’t experience enough of a stretch while using it.

Pros: Comfortable; easy to sleep in; easy to put on by yourself

Cons: Doesn’t fit those with larger calf muscles; doesn’t fit those with a shoe size over 11; doesn’t stretch the plantar fascia as much as the posterior night splint

Comfort Soft Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint

The newest addition to our line of night splints, the Baker night splint is essentially a more comfortable version of the posterior night splint. It functions in the same way as a posterior night splint but with a soft shell, rather than a hard plastic shell.

Pros: Benefits of posterior night splint but more comfortable

Cons: Bulky; hair from pets can stick to the large soft surface