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Night Splints & Keeping Them On

Has anyone had issues with keeping the night splints actually on? My son has what we affectionately refer to as "Jimmy Legs" ... he is quite a mover while sleeping, or he likes to pull his legs up under him with his rear in the air. Neither of these is conducive to keeping the splints in place. He absolutely doesn't mind wearing them, but they don't seem to be staying in place. By the morning time (and honestly, most often by a couple of hours after he's gone to bed), his heels have "popped" out the back. We've only had them for about 6 weeks, and have had them fitted and a recheck on them performed by the prothetist who made them. Everything looks good as long as he isn't moving! At this point, I am wondering if we are actually doing him harm by letting him wear them - I certainly don't want to be putting his foot in a stressful, unnatural position.

We've tried REALLY tightening them, different styles of socks, etc.

Your advice is greatly appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by Lori Ware on October 23, 2009 at 1:19pm

What kind of boot do you have? For example, my son has the Cascade softeze 3.0 or 3.5 (I don't remember!)

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Permalink Reply by Allyson on October 23, 2009 at 1:22pm

You are right, I am so new to this I assumed that night splints are night splints (i.e., a thing vs. a concept). Anyways, we are in Ultra-Flex ... the hard-plastic with hinges that are adjustable. Long velcro straps across top of foot and around calf. Hard plastic exterior with softer more flexible plastic insert (I think this is a comfort thing?).

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Permalink Reply by Lori Ware on October 23, 2009 at 1:25pm

We don't have adjustable hinges, so I don't know anything about them. sorry, I am going to be on no help!!! Good luck!

Allyson said:

You are right, I am so new to this I assumed that night splints are night splints (i.e., a thing vs. a concept). Anyways, we are in Ultra-Flex ... the hard-plastic with hinges that are adjustable. Long velcro straps across top of foot and around calf. Hard plastic exterior with softer more flexible plastic insert (I think this is a comfort thing?).

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Permalink Reply by Danelle Dickerson on October 23, 2009 at 3:41pm

Our son has had night splints for two years now. We only recently started having the same problem. We just check in on him every night before we go to bed. If a splint is off, we put it back on. Don't know what else to do.
Danelle

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Bruhl on October 24, 2009 at 2:08am

We were told no hinges by the PT at Cinc Children's. My son is also all over the place when he sleeps, but the night splints stay on. Maybe you need different ones?

Danelle Dickerson said:

Our son has had night splints for two years now. We only recently started having the same problem. We just check in on him every night before we go to bed. If a splint is off, we put it back on. Don't know what else to do. Danelle

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Permalink Reply by Amy Wickert on October 24, 2009 at 7:16pm

Alec has the same problem. We took them back to get them re-fitted and they put a little rubber insert in the back of the heel. It helped a little. He hates the boots, and he takes them off by himself after about a half hour. I put them back on when he is sleeping and he wakes up in the middle of the night and takes them off again.