Product Review – New Night Splint For Heel Spur Syndrome & Plantar Fasciitis
Anybody who has had a heel spur or plantar fasciitis is very familiar with the sometimes disabling pain on the bottom of the foot when they get up in the morning, or after sitting for a prolonged period of time. There is a wide range of treatment options available for the patient, some of which are more painful than the condition itself (cortisone injections). One of the treatment options available to patients with excellent results is the plantar fascia night splint.
Heel Spur Syndrome or plantar fasciitis is a common and painful foot condition that usually involves a band of tissue that runs from the inside portion of the heel to the ball of the foot and into the toes. This band of tissue is known as Plantar Fascia. Plantar Fasciitis refers to the inflammation of this band, causing pain, swelling, redness and difficulty walking. Many people use all three terms synonymously, but in actuality are distinct conditions.
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia serves to support the arch of the foot, and serve as a spring board or shock absorber as you place your foot on the ground. Causes of plantar fasciitis range from a sudden impact, repetitive trauma, improper shoe gear and overuse. Obesity, flat feet and bio-mechanical problems and certain vocations tend to aggravate this sometimes disabling condition. Women tend to have the condition more frequently than men due to the shoe gear women wear.
In most cases the pain originates at the insertion of the plantar fascia along the bottom of the heel bone or calcaneus. Many people complain of pain in the A.M. while getting out of bed, or after prolonged sitting. This is due to the contracture of the plantar fascia at rest. In most cases the condition improves with prolonged ambulation, as the plantar fascia “stretches out”. The condition is also aggravated by walking barefoot on hard floors or going up steps.
Many doctors will x-ray a patient’s foot to rule out other conditions such as a fracture or cyst in the heel. Deep palpation or pressure on the inside of the heel usually reproduces the sharp shooting pain patients feel when they stand. Some patients will demonstrate a heel spur, or bony prominence that projects out of the heel, in the direction of the pull of the plantar fascia.
It is thought that prolonged microtrauma and inflammation at the insertion of the plantar fascia into the heel causes these spurs to form and grow. Most people assume that the pain is coming from the spur at the bottom of the heel, but that is not entirely correct. The pain comes from the pulling and tearing of the plantar fascia as it inserts into the heel.
There are many conservative treatment options for this condition, including rest, stretching, massage, change in shoe gear, ice therapy, arch support, night splints, walking boots and anti-inflammatory medication. It may take several months for the condition to improve with conservative care. Surgery is rarely needed in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Many people have found relief with night splints. These are devices worn in bed that keep the Achilles Tendon and Plantar Fascia stretched out. By maintaining a slight stretch to these tissues while you sleep, the splint prevents the contractures that usually occur when non-weightbearing.
When patients get up in the morning, there is less pain because the tissue has not contracted. The problem with most traditional night splints is that they run down the back of the lower leg and under the foot. As most people sleep on there back, the device can be very uncomfortable to wear due to the rigidity and bulkiness of the splint.
The dorsal night splint was developed to eliminate the disadvantages of the traditional splint. The dorsal night splint is just as effective at maintaining the stretch, without the bulkiness and discomfort of the traditional device.
The Alimed D2 Night Splint™ is designed to maximize patient compliance with its hinged dorsal shell and dynamic stretch cord. Most night splints fail because they force the foot into a 90º position and expect the patient to tolerate this aggressive stretch for the entire night.
The new D2 Night Splint™ overcomes this major source of patient noncompliance by allowing the patient to start with a more gradual stretch and progress as her condition improves.
This progressive stretch night splint also enables adjustment of the position if discomfort increases. In addition, because the splint is anterior (in front of the ankle & leg), there is more comfort when a patient is sleeping on his/her back.
The patient controls the degree of stretch, a stretch she can tolerate all night
for maximum effectiveness.
Features and Benefits of The Alimed D2 Night Splint™
* Dynamic stretch cord provides a low load stretch force that gently pulls
the foot into dorsiflexion.
* Articulating foot piece and soft bottom enhance safety and comfort
during nighttime and ambulation.
* ROM indicator allows for easy monitoring of progress for documentation.
* Padded terry cloth liner wicks away moisture, helping keep skin dry and
comfortable.
* Plush neoprene straps contour to fit the foot and calf for all-night
comfort.
* Adjust Dynamic Stretch cord in seconds for a dorsiflexion stretch force
that can be sustained all night.
* Numbered cord hooks allow patient to easily gauge progress.
* Up to 15° dorsiflexion.
For more information on this night splint including sizing information CLICK HERE.
Talk to your doctor about the New Alimed Dorsal Night Splint™. It is one of the most popular and successful night splints on the market today. For more information on our entire line of night splints go to www.braceshop.com or call us at (866) 325-8045.
It is always recommended to consult with your treating doctor to determine the correct brace for your orthopedic co
Product Review – The Breg Polar Care 500 Cold Therapy Unit Following Surgery
The flagship of BREG’s cold therapy product line, The Polar Care 500 offers a temperature regulated unit for continuous cold therapy. The Breg Polar Care 500 is one of the most utilized and popular cold therapy devices for conditions that require sustained cold therapy to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. For patients following surgery or injury, it has proven itself to be both reliable and effective.
Why do I need a cold therapy machine?
The two most common side effects of an orthopedic injury or surgery are pain and swelling. These conditions affect the healing process and can lead to longer rehabilitation times. Cold therapy is widely recognized as one of the most effective treatment methods to combat these issues.
Compared to ice and gel packs that provide intense cold over a small area & for a short period of time, requiring frequent trips to the freezer, cold therapy systems, such as the Polar Care 500 can deliver a continuous flow of cold therapy through circulation pads that are specifically designed for different body parts and applications.
The Polar Care 500 can deliver cold within a comfortable temperature range that allows for longer-term application according to your physician’s prescribed treatment protocol.
The Breg Polar Care 500 unit includes a low voltage submersible pump with in-line thermometer and flow valve for temperature control from 35-70 degrees. During use, the pump is submerged in the cooler and connected to a Polar Pad with self sealing couplings. A wall transformer provides power to the pump.
Easy-to-use temperature control gauge that allows for flexibility in adjusting the temperature of the continuous Cold Therapy pad between 35° – 70°. The motor for the Polar Care 500 has an industry-wide track record for reliability. All parts of the Polar Care 500 system can be individually replaced making it more economical to replace a worn out part.
At 11 quarts, the Polar Care 500 has the largest capacity cooler of any single-patient use, continuous Cold Therapy unit on the market and can provide 8 – 11 hours of continuous cold therapy.
Several accessories are available for the Polar Care 500 which enhances its use.
A “Y” adapter can be purchased that allow two extremities to be treated simultaneously. A wide selection of sterile and non-sterile pads are available to fit most every part of your body.
Polar Wraps can be wrapped around each of the Polar Pads, allowing patients to conveniently secure the pads to the affected area without using additional wraps or bandages. The Polar Wraps also control pad condensation.
The Breg Polar Care 500 has a 180 day warranty.
It is highly recommended that you consult with your treating physician before purchasing any cold therapy unit. This unit should only be used under direct supervision of a licensed health care practitioner. For more information on the Breg Polar Care 500 CLICK HERE.
Cryotherapy should not be used by persons with Diabetes, Raynaud’s or other vasospastic disease, cold hypersensitivity, or compromised local circulation. Please visit our site at www.braceshop.com for more information on this cold therapy unit and other similar units or call us at (866) 325-8045.
Product Review – The New Swede-O Thermoskin Heel-Rite
Anybody who has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis is very familiar with the sometimes disabling pain on the bottom of the foot when they get up in the morning, or after sitting for a prolonged period of time. There is a wide range of treatment options available from taping, pain medication, arch supports, night splints and cortisone injections. A new treatment option is now available from Swede-O Inc. called the Heel-Rite Ankle Support.
The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous tissue that originates on the inner portion of the heel bone and fans out under the arch to the balls of the feet and inserts into the toes. It forms the longitudinal arch of the foot and functions as a shock-absorber when you walk or run. Irritation or inflammation of the plantar fascia occurs primarily at its attachment to the heel bone or calcaneus.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis usually occur in the morning when the patient gets out of bed. The pain usually subsides after a couple of minutes, but returns with prolonged sitting. This is due to a tightening or contracture of the plantar fascia at rest. When standing the fascia stretches “suddenly” causing pain at the insertion. As the fascia “stretches out”, the pain subsides. If untreated, the pain worsens and increases in duration. Plantar fasciitis is further aggravated by poor fitting shoes, barefoot ambulation, and aggressive sports activities.
Treatment for plantar fasciitis is usually conservative in nature. Rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, padding, alternative shoe gear, arch supports, orthotics, stretching exercises usually improve the condition. Cortisone injections are sometimes necessary to reduce severe pain, and if conservative treatment and time have not improved the condition, surgery is sometimes indicated.
Arch supports and orthotics (custom made arch supports) are a very popular treatment modality among Podiatrists, Chiropractors and Therapists and have proven very successful in controlling abnormal gait, excessive pronation and support of the plantar fascia. In many instances, these devices cannot be worn due to shoegear restrictions. Since most of the damage and irritation of the plantar fascia occurs during the day, with prolonged standing, walking and physical activity, an alternative to orthotics and arch supports was limited. Until Swede-O developed a unique and supportive brace called The Heel-Rite.
The Heel-Rite is a combination ankle brace and arch support. The patented Heel-Rite provides effective daytime treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. The Heel-Rite is comfortable to wear and low profile in design.
The brace contains a support strap that lifts the arch and provide compression to the plantar fascia and stabilization of the longitudinal arch.
Another unique feature of the Heel-Rite is the brace material. Swede-O utilizes a Thermoskin Thermal fabric that has been clinically proven to increase subcutaneous skin temperature 2-3°F for optimal level of heat therapy. Thermoskin’s patented Trioxon® lining creates a micro-climate that maintains elevated skin temperature while still allowing the skin to ventilate for long-term user comfort. The spiral structure of the Trioxon lining lifts moisture away from the skin and traps air within the lining to help prevent excessive perspiration.
This combination of ankle and foot stability, heat therapy, and arch support with compression makes this a great alternative to bulky arch supports and orthotic inserts. The Heel-Rite fits into most shoes and is very adjustable, coming in just two sizes. It is universal for left or right ankles. More more information CLICK HERE.
It is always recommended that you consult with your treating doctor to determine the cause of your orthopedic condition and the appropriate treatment. For more information on this and other similar braces go to www.braceshop.com or call us at (866) 325-8045.