A comparison of two night ankle-foot orthoses used in the treatment of inferior heel pain: a preliminary investigation.

BACKGROUND: Non-operative treatment for plantar fasciitis varies widely and includes the use of night ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs). This study compares the effectiveness of a posterior AFO, which dorsiflexes the foot, with an anterior AFO, which maintains the foot in a plantigrade position.

METHOD: Each participant was given a questionnaire to fill in to evaluate how satisfied the participants were with the orthosis with regards to comfort, ease of use and appearance, and whether the pain in the foot was reduced and at what stage was the pain decreased.

RESULTS: Two-thirds of all participants confirmed that morning pain and stiffness was less after wearing the AFO; both types were relatively easy to don and doff, but the posterior orthosis was more uncomfortable and disrupted sleep. On average, the anterior AFO reduced heel pain more significantly than the posterior orthosis.

CONCLUSION: Plantar fasciitis night AFOs are poorly tolerated orthoses but their use can be justified in that the pain levels are reduced. The anterior AFOs are more comfortable and more effective than posterior AFOs.