Learning Blister Prevention by Trial and Error

Yesterday was my birthday. I only mention this because it relates to today’s blog.
     An ultrarunner friend, Mark Swanson, sent an email to a listserv in response to a comment about blister prevention. He wrote: “In honor of John’s birthday let's remember the lesson he keeps emphasizing - what works for you may not work for the next person and what works for you now may not work for you next time. But what works for you will help some people and may work for you for a long time!”
     There is much value in these two sentences. A common saying is, “We are each an experiment of one.” That directly applies to foot care, and especially blister prevention. Ever since I wrote the first edition of Fixing Your Feet, I have tried to get people to learn about how to prevent blisters with a variety of techniques and products. There is more than one way to prevent blisters. Here is a sampling: shoe fit, insole fabrics, different socks, different combinations of socks, different lubricants, different powders, lacing, taping with a whole assortment of tapes, hydration, toenail care, gaiters, reducing calluses, a variety of blister patches, ENGO Blister Prevention patches, conditioning, skin care, skin tougheners, lamb’s wool, and more.
     In Fixing Your Feet I have a chapter on ways to prevent blisters. There are things you do to your feet, things that you put on your feet, things you put around your feet, things you do in combination, and things you do in general. I encourage you to take the book and read about these methods to prevent blisters.
     Mark said it well. Go back to the top of this blog and read it again. It's important and it will help keep your feet happy.
     Mark has a blog on running and other aspects of life: RunAlong with Pastor Mark. I encourage you to check it out.

Comments

[Dora]

I love these. Small piece of advice based on experience about using the engo pads. My shoes got wet (long story) and one pad started to come up on one edge so I gently tried to remove them from both shoes to replace with new ones. If you do this make sure that the new engo pads are larger then the previous ones. If any glue is left from old ones, it will stick and pull on your socks which is very bad! You can cut the larger rectangular ones to fit. I also noticed that when I took the old ones out they pulled on the inside fabric of the shoes. I will be buying new hiking boots. :)