A prospective, randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy of night splints versus the Strassburg Sock™ in the relief of heel pain in plantar fasciitis

A.W. Gardner, E. Tay, C.J. Pearce

Introduction: After a pilot study and power analysis to calculate the sample size required, a prospective, randomized controlled study of 32 patients with plantar fasciitis was performed to determine the efficacy of a dorsiflexion night splint compared with the Strassburg Sock™ in relieving heel pain.

Methods: All patients were referred to physiotherapy for an eccentric stretching regime and were randomized to receive either the dorsiflexion night splint or Strassburg Sock™. The primary outcome measure was the visual analogue score for pain (VAS) on first standing in the morning. Secondary outcomes were VAS scores for the worst pain the patient had experienced that week, Manchester/Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) and a patient satisfaction score. Data were recorded at 0, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Two patients dropped out of the study.

Results: The VAS and MOXFQ scores showed that all patients were significantly better by the end of the study. Patient satisfaction was high in both groups. There was no significant difference in any of the scores at any time point between the splint or the Strassburg Sock™ group.

Conclusion: Either the Strassburg Sock™ or the splint can be considered as a secondary treatment in addition to eccentric stretches for initial treatment of plantar fasciitis.