Night Splints
Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, October 2026
A night splint is a brace you wear on your ankle and foot while you sleep. It holds your ankle in a neutral position, like a stretch you wear in bed. It is used mainly for plantar fasciitis (heel pain from the thick band of tissue under your foot) in adults, especially when pain with your first steps in the morning is the main problem. Results are mixed. Some people get short-term relief, but a splint doesn't always add much to stretching and exercises. Many people find it hard to keep wearing, and it usually isn't the first treatment tried.
What is it?
A night splint is a brace worn on your ankle and foot while you sleep. It holds your ankle in a neutral position, so your foot isn't left pointing down all night. Think of it as a stretch you wear while you sleep.
The idea is to stop the plantar fascia (a thick band of tissue under your foot) and your calf muscles from tightening overnight. Tight calf muscles are linked with plantar fasciitis. It isn't yet clear whether a splint actually lengthens these tissues.
There are a few kinds. Some are custom-made, such as a moulded plastic brace that holds the ankle at a slight upward angle (5 degrees of dorsiflexion, which means your foot is tilted up towards your shin). Others are ready-made.
What is it used for?
A night splint is used mainly for plantar fasciitis (also called plantar heel pain) in adults. It suits people best when the main problem is pain with the first steps after getting out of bed.
It is also listed as an option for tarsal tunnel syndrome, a problem where a nerve near your ankle is under pressure. A splint is meant to take the strain off that nerve. It isn't yet clear whether it helps.
A night splint is not a proven treatment for other conditions.
Is it right for me?
A night splint may suit you if you are an adult with plantar fasciitis and your worst pain is first thing in the morning. It is usually tried after the basics haven't helped enough. Those basics are learning about the condition, stretching, and options such as taping, shoe inserts or shockwave therapy (pulses of sound waves that help tissue heal). It has also been used for people whose heel pain has lasted more than a year despite other treatments.
Heel pain has other possible causes, such as an irritated nerve, a problem with the Achilles tendon (the cord at the back of your heel), a stress fracture of the heel bone, a thinning heel fat pad, or a lump in the arch. Your podiatrist will check for these first, because a splint won't fix them.
Heel pain after an injury, or a heel bone that might be broken, needs assessment before any splint is used. The warning signs below explain when.
What happens?
Your podiatrist or physiotherapist will examine your foot and confirm the cause of your pain. They will usually start with the basics: stretching your plantar fascia and calf, taping if it suits you, and advice about your activity and footwear. These are generally used together for about 4 to 6 weeks before other options are added.
If a splint is added, the best time to wear it is all night. That isn't always practical. If you can't manage a full night, wearing it for 15 to 30 minutes at a time, several times a day, should have a similar effect. Putting it on about 10 minutes before you get out of bed can also ease the pain of your first steps.
Splints can take some getting used to, and you may need to wear one for a while before you notice a benefit. There is no standard number of weeks to wear a splint. Your podiatrist or physiotherapist can help with the fit and with how long to try it.
How well does it work?
Results are mixed. Some people get short-term relief of heel pain, particularly when a splint is added to their usual care for the first time. Heel pain came back in 13.6 per cent of feet that used a splint and 29 per cent of feet that didn't, but this difference was not large enough to say a splint prevents it coming back.
If your heel pain has lasted a long time (around 2 years on average), a splint may add little to a home exercise plan. Pain improved by about 1.5 points on a 0 to 10 scale over 3 months with or without a splint. People using a splint may feel better a little sooner, at around 6 weeks, but the extra benefit is small.
Compared with shoe inserts, a splint on its own did less well. After a year, pain had fallen by 62 per cent with foot orthoses (custom shoe inserts) and by 48 per cent with a night splint alone. Most people kept using their inserts, but almost no one was still using the splint at 12 months. If you are thinking about inserts, ask for a custom-made pair, as ready-made ones were not effective in the trials. Taping and stretching have good support for easing first-step pain, which is why they usually come first.
People over 45, and people who waited longer before starting treatment, tend to do less well. Many people are helped rather than cured, so it's best to expect gradual improvement.
Risks and side effects
The main problems are discomfort and poor sleep. Many people stop using their splint. About 30 per cent stopped wearing one within a month. In a trial of one type, sleep quality did not get significantly worse, although some people find it hard to sleep in a splint.
If your splint is uncomfortable or keeps you awake, tell your podiatrist or physiotherapist rather than just stopping. They can check the fit, change how long you wear it, or suggest a different treatment.
How often splints cause skin irritation, numbness or nerve pressure isn't clear. Take the splint off and get advice if you notice new tingling or loss of feeling in your foot.
Afterwards
Watch the pain you feel with your first steps in the morning or after sitting for a long time. It may not disappear completely, but it should ease gradually. Results had not slipped back six months after splinting in one group of people.
If you aren't improving, ask your podiatrist or physiotherapist to review your diagnosis and other treatment options. Disabling heel pain that goes on for more than a year may need review for other options, including surgery.
When to see a podiatrist
Book an appointment if
Book an appointment with your podiatrist or physiotherapist if your heel pain hasn't improved after 2 weeks of looking after it yourself, if it is disabling or has lasted more than a year, or if a splint is uncomfortable or stops you sleeping. If you have diabetes and foot or heel pain, have it checked by a health professional before you try a splint, because foot problems can be more serious. See your GP soon if you have any tingling or loss of feeling in your foot.
Seek prompt assessment if
This needs urgent medical assessment: see your GP today, or go to an urgent care clinic or the nearest emergency department. Do this if you have heel pain after an injury, a heel bone that might be broken, a sudden change in the shape of your foot, or you suddenly can't put weight on it. Do the same for severe pain that doesn't ease, a fever or feeling generally unwell, weight loss you can't explain, constant pain at night or pain that stops you sleeping, significant swelling, a change in colour or temperature, a lump, or signs of infection such as redness and warmth. Don't delay assessment to try a splint. If you have numbness or weakness in your foot or leg that is getting worse, you need medical assessment and shouldn't rely on a splint alone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a night splint and start using it myself?
It's better to ask your podiatrist or physiotherapist first. They can confirm that plantar fasciitis is the cause of your pain, check that a splint suits you, and help with the fit. They can also tell you how long to try it, because there is no standard number of weeks.
How will I know if it's working?
Notice how sore your heel is with your first steps in the morning, or when you stand after sitting a long time. This pain may not go away completely, but it should ease gradually. It can take a while before you notice a difference, so give it some time unless it is causing problems.
Can children use night splints?
Nothing is known about night splints for children's heel pain. The research on them is in adults. If your child has heel pain, have a health professional assess it so the right cause is found and the right treatment is chosen.