The Strassburg Sock for Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis refers to pain in the bottom of the heel that occurs as a result of repetitive strain to the thick band of fibrous tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia). The plantar fascia plays a crucial role in supporting the foot’s arch and absorbing shock, making it essential to the foot’s biomechanics during walking. Plantar fasciitis is characterised by collagen degradation of the plantar fascia at the calcaneal tuberosity where it originates. The The Strassburg sock is a splint designed to help manage the symptoms of plantar fascia.

Typical symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

• Pain and tenderness on the anterior medial aspect of the heel.
• Pain that is worse with the first few steps in the morning after waking up, or worse after a period of non-weight bearing in general.
• Pain may also worsen after an extended period of weight-bearing.
• Often people with plantar fasciitis may compensate when walking and limp or toe-walk to avoid putting weight through the heel.
• It is likely that people with plantar fasciitis will have a tight Achilles and decreased dorsiflexion.

How can a Strassburg sock help?

The Strassburg sock is a type of splint designed to be worn at night or during periods of rest. It maintains the foot and ankle in a ‘neutral’ position to keep tension on the plantar fascia in a lengthened position. This allows the transition to weight-bearing after a period of rest to be comfortable.

How do I use the Strassburg sock?

It is recommended that you wear the Strassburg sock for 6 hours at a time while you are sleeping, until you have 7 pain-free mornings consecutively.

Follow the steps below to wear the sock correctly:

• Pull the Strassburg sock on completely and have the ‘O’ ring at the top of your calf, facing forward.
• Secure the upper strap with the attached fastener. Ensure that it is not so tight that it is uncomfortable.
• Place your foot flat on the floor with your ankle at a 90-degree angle.
• Take the toe strap and loop it through the ‘O’ ring, from bottom to top.
• Pull your toes up half an inch off the floor and apply the fastener pieces.
• You should not be feeling discomfort or too much stretch.

Why should I choose the Strassburg sock?

An independent research study published in 2002 in the Foot and Ankle Journal determined that the average recovery time of participants who had plantar heel pain, rated at a minimum of 7/10 on the visual analogue scale, was 18.5 days when wearing the Strassburg sock as advised. 97.8% of participants had a full recovery in 8 weeks while using the Strassburg sock.

All participants in the study were able to keep wearing the Strassburg sock as directed as it was comfortable. This is important as one of the main complaints that people have when wearing splints at night is that can be uncomfortable to wear.

The Strassburg sock is also easy to put on and adjust. It allows more dorsiflexion of the toes which is important in the resolution of plantar heel pain.

Citations

1. Strassburg Medical, LLC. (n.d.). Wearing instructions. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https:// thesock .com / wearing-instructions/
2. A retrospective study of standing gastrocnemius-soleus stretching versus night splinting in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Barry, Lance D. et al. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 41, Issue 4, 221 – 227