DarcoBody Armor Night Splint

I've had PF for six years now in both feet. I've tried walking splints during the day. Going to a physical therapist. Doing daily stretching and strengthening but nothing worked. I'd had given up after the first year and had been just tuffing it out with some cheap shoe insoles. But recently I decided it was time to finally make the plung and buy a night brace. I first bought one of those big bulky night braces and it works ok. The bulkiness doesn't bother me. Its drawbacks are more in the area of comfort and performance. To really get the desired affect it needs to be so tight that it can't be warn because of discomfort. It doesn't stretch the tendons at all like this one does either. BUT! I still use it on my left foot for my heal PF and it works good with the straps nice and loose. But for my right foot which has arch PF it did little to no good. I tried one of those night splints that connects at the toes and pulls up all night but it absolutely CRUSHED my toes and the pain was unbearable. It only takes a little pressure to make your toes hurt or to lose their blood flow and go numb. So I bought this item and the first night I put it on too tight and it was painful so I took it off after an hour. The next night I thought to myself this thing is worthless because I have to use it loosely so it's not really holding my foot and toe in the perfect position but I was wrong. I loosened it up a bit and slept with it. The next morning the pain was almost completely gone. Three days later my arch was better than it had been in years. It's been a week now and I can finally do some jump-roping and other strengthening exercises to actually solve my PF for good. So a few things to remember: to cure PF you'll need this brace, at least twice daily stretching of the arch, achillies tendon, calf and hamstrings, and you need to do daily foot strengthening exercises or your PF will just keep coming back because PF is pain caused by weak or overused or injured tendons that get inflamed. Buy this, wear it loosely, stretch, strengthen, and you will be PF free one day. Remember it takes MONTHS to fix tendons not days or weeks, MONTHS! So keep it up. Lastly, I stuff a sock between my foot and this brace to spread out the pressure on the top of my foot at night so I don't get any discomfort at all. Any discomfort with this brace is user error by having it too tight.

I have bilateral plantar fasciitis; mild in one foot, severe in the other. At first I had tried the BIRD & CRONIN splint from my podiatrist but found the narrow straps cut into my ankle if I tightened them enough to get a good flexion.I had spent many hours researching and reading reviews looking for a splint with wide straps that wouldn't cut into the top of my foot, accommodate my high dorsal arch, was low profile to allow me to turn in bed with both feet splinted.I tried the Night Splint Body Armor Darco, which is a DORSAL splint. I liked the idea of the toe loop to give my foot the dorsal-flexion it needed. Unfortunately the dorsal splint did not meet up with my expectations. At most with this dorsal splint on I was able to get my foot to stay in a neutral position, no flexion. That was only after tightening the straps so tight as to ending up with numbness on the top of my foot. Loosening the straps allowed my foot to be able to slide forward enough to make it ineffective. After adding a 1 inch thick foam pad to the front of my foot/calf was I able sleep with the splint in place all night. Positives: It was light weight, comfortable, easy to walk in. I think this one may work for some.Third I tried the Swede-O Deluxe Padded Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint. This was by far the most comfortable. The straps were wide and I was able to strap my foot in well enough that I had a solid splint. It also comes with a extra wedge to increase flexion. (I did not try this) I had the same complaints as others. I wear a womens 9 and ordered the smaller size Medium. the splint is still fairly big and I think I could have even gone with a size small. The velcro is very strong and the edges of the velcro can be irritating. Positive/negative: as it is very well padded my foot got too warm to be comfortable (and this is winter in Wisconsin) I doubt I would be able to stand it in warmer weather.I am back to using the BIRD & CRONIN splint. I found that if I cross the two bottom straps I get a snug fit that doesn't cut into the top of my foot and keeps it flexed. This one is very open and allows for my feet to stay cool. Still bulkier than I would like, it will have to do.

Thanks. This really helping the pain. Just very uncomfortable in your sleep that it wakes you up to take it off.. but the pain is literally reduced if you continue to wear it

I really love these. They're perfect for using for my plantar fasciitis. I really love the fit.

Excellent. Been using for a year and is working. More comfortable to wear at night and can get up and go to the bathroom without removing. The velco sometimes loosens so it isn't as tight, but the have never fallen off. They are less cumbersome than the boot, and hubby appreciates not getting kicked with the boot in the middle of the night.