This Independence Day is the 4th of July Road Race in North Andover. It’s a great run with a lot of chances to improve your running times. To make sure you aren’t sidelined when race day rolls around or even during the race, you might want to read these tips on how to avoid blisters.
A blister is essentially a protective barrier between your body and the outside elements. These fluid-filled bubbles form mainly as a result of friction between your skin and some other material, like your shoes, which causes great pain and discomfort. Athletes, especially runners, suffer from blisters more often than others because of the added pressure and friction on their feet.
Once you have a blister, it can make it very difficult to run or even walk. The best course of action is to avoid them in the first place. It can be easy to do, it just takes some extra forethought. You can try socks that wick away moisture, or just double layer your socks. When you wear double-layer socks, it causes the friction to be between the socks instead of between your skin and the sock.
You can also try powders to keep your feet dry or lubricants to keep your feet very slick. It’s when they’re sort of moist that blisters tend to form. You can also try padding or taping the areas that tend to be prone to blisters.
If you have blisters or have questions about keeping your feet ready for running, call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel at (978) 794-8406 to schedule an appointment in one of our three conveniently located Massachusetts offices. Blisters should not be the cause of you staying out of a race and neither should any other foot condition. Let us help keep your feet healthy and race-ready!