Friction Blisters of the Feet: A New Paradigm to Explain Causation. 2024

Rebecca Rushton, and Douglas Richie
Esperance Podiatry and BlisterPod, Esperance, Western Australia, Australia.

Friction blisters on the feet commonly occur when individuals engage in active pursuits such as running, hiking, and military training. The high prevalence of blisters in active individuals underscores the fact that the pathomechanics of this condition are not fully understood. The traditional blister causation paradigm revolves around heat, moisture, and friction. In reality, foot friction blisters are caused by repetitive shear deformation. The 3 fundamental elements of blister-inducing shear deformation are (1) motion of bone, (2) high friction force, and (3) repetition of the resulting shear events. Rubbing at the skin surface is not a mechanism for friction blister formation. To that end, prevention of the friction blister continues to be an elusive quest for both the patient and the treating clinician. In this article, we aimed to highlight the limitations of the long-held blister-causation paradigm and offer a new explanation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008889 Military Personnel Persons including soldiers involved with the armed forces. Air Force Personnel,Armed Forces Personnel,Army Personnel,Coast Guard,Marines,Navy Personnel,Sailors,Soldiers,Submariners,Military,Force Personnel, Air,Personnel, Air Force,Personnel, Armed Forces,Personnel, Army,Personnel, Military,Personnel, Navy,Sailor,Soldier,Submariner
D001768 Blister Visible accumulations of fluid within or beneath the epidermis. Bulla,Vesication,Bleb,Bullae,Bullous Lesion,Blebs,Blisters,Bullous Lesions,Lesion, Bullous,Lesions, Bullous,Vesications
D005528 Foot The distal extremity of the leg in vertebrates, consisting of the tarsus (ANKLE); METATARSUS; phalanges; and the soft tissues surrounding these bones. Feet
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012420 Running An activity in which the body is propelled by moving the legs rapidly. Running is performed at a moderate to rapid pace and should be differentiated from JOGGING, which is performed at a much slower pace. Runnings
D017276 Friction Surface resistance to the relative motion of one body against the rubbing, sliding, rolling, or flowing of another with which it is in contact.

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