The Night Splint is an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis, also known as brace) intended for stretching a shortened calf muscle. The night splint is available in two versions: a Dynamic and Static Night Splint. On this page you will find more details about our Static Night Splint. If you are more interested in the Dynamic Night Splint, click here.
Shortening of the calf muscle
With the Swift Static Night splint, a slim and stiff adjustable orthosis, shortening of the achilles tendon / calf muscle can be prevented or treated. Shortening of the calf muscle is very common for people who suffer from spasm in the calf muscle. Because the muscle is held in short position by the spasm for a longer period of time (where the ankle is brought in Plantar flexion, with other words: the foot is pulled in equinus position.), shorten it in the long run. The ankle can then no longer be brought completely into dorsal flexion (foot up).
Treatment is necessary
That can lead to pain, reversal foot strike during walking (first the toes on the floor, instead of first the heel on the floor) and ultimately even to klachten op complaints on knee-level (hyperextension). Treatment is therefore necessary.
Take your time
The shortening of the muscle does not happen overnight. You will not wake up in the morning with a shortened calf muscle. These types of processes in the body generally go gradual and taking time. Also the way back takes time. Stretching again does not go on its own and not quickly. In addition, time is more important than force. The prolonged tension of the muscle at its finite end with a low force is more pronounced than short-term pulling really hard. This is because of the combination of viscoelastic behavior and regeneration / growth of the body’s internal structures, which are both time-dependent.
