The 7 Myths of Foot Blister Prevention
22
The 7 Myths of FOOT BLISTER PREVENTION A publication of
-
Upload
rebecca-rushton -
Category
Health & Medicine
-
view
173.817 -
download
0
description
Foot blisters - do you suffer? “Many myths continue to be propagated regarding the prevention and treatment of friction blisters” D Richie DPM (2010). THE 7 MYTHS OF FOOT BLISTER PREVENTION “... many myths continue to be propagated regarding the prevention and treatment of friction blisters” Douglas Richie DPM (2010) MYTH 1 BLISTERS ARE A BURN The reality is … Friction blisters do not resemble thermal burns either clinically or histologically And experimental blister studies show only moderate increases in skin temperatures of between 41-50 ºC (insufficient to cause a burn) Friction blisters do not resemble thermal burns either clinically or histologically MYTH 2 FRICTION IS RUBBING The reality is … (Friction is misunderstood) Friction is the force that resists rubbing As the bone moves one way, the force of friction opposes this to keep the surface of the skin stationary. The result is all the soft tissue in between stretches. This is shear and this is what causes blisters. You don’t need rubbing to form blisters! Rubbing adds an abrasion injury (deroofed blister). Blister Cause = Shear Deroofed Blister Cause = Rubbing MYTH 3 WEARING COTTON SOCKS WILL STOP BLISTERS The reality is … (This is the worst thing you can do!) Cotton is a hydrophilic (water-attracting) fibre It keeps moisture trapped near the skin Moisture increases friction levels So cotton increases blister incidence MYTH 4 POWDERS STOP FRICTION The reality is ... (This won’t work for long) Feet perspire a lot (especially when you exercise) Powder absorbs as much perspiration as it can Then it clumps together and increases friction levels MYTH 5 LUBRICANTS ARE THE BEST WAY TO STOP FRICTION The reality is … (This one is a semi-myth) Initially friction reduces Then friction increases MYTH 6 HEAT, MOISTURE AND FRICTION CAUSE BLISTERS The reality is … (This is an over-simplification) There are 4 factors required to produce blisters: Thick and immobile skin High coefficient of friction (friction & pressure) Moving bone Repetition It gets hot in your shoe which causes your feet to sweat. This moisture increases friction levels. But this is just one part of blister formation. MYTH 7 BLISTERS ARE A PART OF SPORT – WEAR THEM WITH PRIDE! The reality is ... (Blisters are not inevitable!) Blisters are not inevitable! Get the facts. The Advanced Guide to Blister Prevention - Download the Guide So you’re an athlete needing to solve your blister problem… Or you’re a sports medicine practitioner and need to improve your blister prevention outcomes … www.blisterprevention.com.au can help you with that! Using science and research to explain what causes blisters how preventative strategies work (and don’t work) “Information you can use with confidence to perform blister-free!” Get the facts! The Advanced Guide to Blister Prevention
Transcript of The 7 Myths of Foot Blister Prevention
The 7 Myths of
FOOT
BLISTER
PREVENTIONA publication of
“... many myths continue to
be propagated regarding the
prevention and treatment of
friction blisters”
Douglas Richie DPM (2010)
MYTH 1Blisters are a burn
[Are friction blisters a thermal burn?]
2 And experimental blister studies show
only moderate increases in skin
temperatures of between 41-50 ºC
(insufficient to cause a burn)
The reality is …
Friction blisters do not resemble thermal
burns either clinically or histologically
[Friction is misunderstood!]
MYTH 2Friction is rubbing
Friction is the force
that resists rubbing
As the bone moves one
way, the force of friction
opposes this to keep the
surface of the skin
stationary. The result is all
the soft tissue in between
stretches. This is shear and
this is what causes blisters.
The reality is …
Friction is the force
that resists rubbing
The reality is …
As the bone moves one
way, the force of friction
opposes this to keep the
surface of the skin
stationary. The result is all
the soft tissue in between
stretches. This is shear and
this is what causes blisters.
You don’t need
rubbing to form
blisters!
Rubbing adds an
abrasion injury
(deroofed blister)
Blister Deroofed Blister
Cause = Shear Cause = Rubbing
http://www.istockphoto.com https://www.flickr.com/photos/gromgull/3639396542/?rb=1
Wearing cotton
socks will stop blisters
[This is the worst thing you can do!]
MYTH 3
► Cotton is a hydrophilic (water-attracting) fibre
► It keeps moisture trapped near the skin
► Moisture increases friction levels
► So cotton increases blister incidence
The reality is …
Powders stop friction
[This won’t work for long]
MYTH 4
► Feet perspire a lot (especially when you exercise)
► Powder absorbs as much perspiration as it can
► Then it clumps together increasing friction levels
The reality is …
Lubricants are the
best way to stop friction
[This one is a semi-myth]
MYTH 5
► Initially friction reduces
► Then friction increases
The reality is …
Heat, moisture and
friction cause blisters
[This is an over-simplification]
MYTH 6
Thick and immobile skin
1
2
3
4
High coefficient of friction (friction & pressure)
Moving bone
Repetition
There are 4 factors required to produce blisters:
It gets hot in your
shoe which causes
your feet to sweat.
This moisture
increases friction
levels. But this is
just one part of
blister formation.
The reality is …
Blisters are a part of
sport – wear them
with pride!
[Blisters are not inevitable!]
MYTH 7
Blisters are not inevitable!
Get the facts
The Advanced Guide to
Blister Prevention
Download the Guide
So you’re an athlete needing to solve your
blister problem…
Or you’re a sports medicine practitioner and need
to improve your blister prevention outcomes …
can help you with that!
Using science and research to explain:
• what causes blisters
• how preventative strategies work (and don’t work)
“Information you can use with confidence
to perform blister-free!”
www.blisterprevention.com.au
