Homemade Night Splint

A night splint is a common recommendation for people who suffer from broken bones, heel spurs, heel pain, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. Splints help to stabilize and support joints and broken bones. Splints can be made out of various materials depending on which part of the body they are being used. Splints usually work the best when made out of stiff objects such as rolled up magazines, a broom, a baseball bat, a board, an umbrella, socks or even newspapers. You can then use various items at home to securely hold the splint in place.

Homemade Night Splints

• To splint the upper leg use bandage wrap, belts, or ties to splint one leg to the other. To splint the lower section of the leg you can use items such as a broom handle, a rolled-up newspaper or a baseball bat. Ankles can be splinted with rolled-up magazines or newspapers and secured using an Ace bandage, neck tie, scarf or belt. To splint a finger you can use a pencil or the neighboring finger and secure it with bandage wrap or tape. Hands can be splinted with a small piece of wooden board, magazines or a book. Arms can be splinted with a cane, a baseball bat or an umbrella and secured with bandage wrap, scarves, ties, belts or nylons.

Night Splints for Plantar Fasciitis

• No matter what a night splint is made from it can only work if it is securely fastened to the body part in need and helps to provide stability and minimize movement. For injuries such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis and heel spurs, the primary goal of a night splint is to keep the foot in a flexed position to lengthen the muscles. The primary cause of heel pain is caused by a lack of flexibility in the calf muscles. Night splints can be used at night to help improve the calf muscle’s elasticity and thwart contracture of the calf muscle during the night. You can secure the foot in a homemade night splint that can help lengthen the muscles by pulling the toes toward the knees and keeping it in this position by placing a wooden board or a piece of hard plastic under the foot and then continuing to wrap an elastic rubber band or Ace bandage around the shin bone and foot until it is securely in place.