Pain in the tendon under the arch of the heel which is the result of excessive use of the plantar fascia ligament is known as Plantar Fasciitis which occurs quite commonly but can be quite difficult to heal if not cared for in time. The pain is pretty bearable in the early days of the symptoms being detected but gets unbearable as the condition progresses. Usually it is worse in the morning on waking up since the plantar ligaments become taut at night when it is at rest but as you use the foot, and it warms up, the pain reduces very much. Sore heel can be a symptom of plantar fasciitis.
The common causes for plantar fasciitis is the over usage of the feet which happens when you regularly indulge in activities such as jogging, jumping, running, dancing as these activities induce the tendons to stretch and suffer damage. Many athletes and dancers are flat footed which leads to a condition called overpronation. This condition makes such athletes very good candidates for plantar fasciitis because of the additional pressure stretching of the plantar ligaments.
Another reason for becoming a victim of plantar fasciitis is the continuous use of footwear that has no support for the arch of the foot and so such patients should ensure they wear flat footwear preferably with laces for additional support and having appropriate supports for the arch of the foot and cushioning too.
Of the many remedies available for plantar fasciitis, night splints for plantar fasciitis appears to be a cumbersome piece of apparatus that functions like a brace that not only grips the foot, but the ankle and lower leg as well. It is normally worn at night when you go to sleep and works by stretching the plantar ligament which would normally get taut, even while you are sleeping.
There are a number of treatment options when you are afflicted with plantar fasciitis or sore heel and these include anti-inflammatory medicines, physiotherapy, ice cold compresses and shoe inserts called orthotics among others but of all these, night splints for plantar fasciitis has proven to be the most effective and the most popular modes of treatment. However, it would not be accurate to state that the use of night splints for plantar fasciitis is guaranteed to work in all cases, but should be prescribed only after a careful and proper evaluation of the condition by an expert physician. A big disadvantage to most patients besides being cumbersome to wear would be its high price.