Blisters on arches - Health + Injury

scooby loo

24/10/2002 at 09:22

Can anybody give me some advice on my ailment. I'm breaking in some new Air Pegasus but they are giving me wicked blisters on the outside arches of both my feet.

Is this likely to go away the more I use the trainer - or is there anything I can do to my trainer/foot to prevent it from happening. I have already considered confining them to back of the wardrobe (the trainers not my feet!)

any advice welcome!
Scoobs

Nordog

24/10/2002 at 10:16

Hi Scooby

I suffered this problem recently on running the Great North Run, and when I run beyond 8 miles in general. I had a cracking blister on my right arch, towards the inside of my foot, couldn't walk very far for the next couple of days!

I now use either the Compeed (Medium) Plasters - (the expensive option at £4 for 5) or Zinc Oxide tape (£1.80 for 2.5cm x 3m) on the area that tends to blister.

I also find that a thicker sock helps eliminate some of the friction. Sometimes even 2 pairs of socks!

I'm still experimenting myself, so I'm sure others will have other things to try.

Hope this helps.

scooby loo

24/10/2002 at 10:20

cheers gusher - so i don't need to throw the trainers out the window just yet.

scoobs

Highlandmalted

24/10/2002 at 10:25

If you can wear a thinish pair of sports socks against the feet and a pair of running socks on top that usually works well. Means that the rubbing is between the two pairs of socks rather than between your feet and the socks. As well as the Zinc Oxide tape, which I swear by, you can try coating your feet in vaseline... feels a bit wierd at first but it really does work.

scooby loo

24/10/2002 at 10:31

hmmm vaseline - sounds nice!
so vaseline, zinc tape, compeed plasters and 2 pairs of socks
sorted
cheers for the advice !

XFR Bear

24/10/2002 at 12:24

The idea is you won't be able to get your shoes on after all that, so they can't cause blisters ;-)

Seriously though - it's also possible to get sock with two layers which I find can help. I also use vaseline around the toes, as these sometimes rub together.

Best of luck with it scoobs!

Iain

Roz

30/10/2002 at 13:51

All good advice. Have you thought about taking the trainer liners out and replacing them from a pair of trainers that were comfortable? It could be that the liners have a built in arch support that you don't need.

scooby loo

30/10/2002 at 16:09

I've tried a different pair of insoles - but not the ones from my usual running shoes. I suffered pain after 15mins of running but the blisters were still sore. I used my old runners monday morning and had no problem so I'll think i try the insoles of my usual runners tonight as my arches are nearly recovered now.
The cushioning of my new trainers is far better and beside the excruciating arch pain I do actually run faster in them

cheers for advice
Scoobs

The Evil Pixie pirate

pirate

30/10/2002 at 20:06

I had blisters there too and found out my shoes weren't wide enough .... try tying the laces differently - see the article on here!

jimimac

31/10/2002 at 00:56

i get blisters but only on marathon runs and only after around 15-16 miles---i get them on both wee toes and on the heels below the ankle---have tried "more mile" socks---no good--where do you get zinc oxide tape---also will compeed plasters stay on for a full marathon and will vaseline last for this distance or does it need re-applied at halfway---help

Nordog

31/10/2002 at 08:30

jimimac

Zinc Oxide tape is available off the self at any pharmacist, next to the plasters and bandages, if you don't see it just ask.

I find that I need to put the Compeeds on a day before the long run and walk around as normal if I want them to act as a protection barrier, so far i haven't had any come off during a run and the skin underneath has been a lot better.

As yet I haven't tried the vaseline option!

Hope this helps

gusher

jimimac

04/11/2002 at 17:47

gusher
thanks for the info----on another thread have heard of "bodyglide"---am going to try this on my feet for a 20m long run-- will post a reply ---but have just done the dublin marathon so will need a couple of weeks recovery

Speedy.G !!!!!!!!!

05/11/2002 at 08:10

Hi all
Went for a run last night with my new shoes on. This was the third time I have worn them Brooks Trance. I only did 50 mins but manged to get a huge blister on my arch on the inside of my foot. I have never had this problem before so I will try the advice here. Really annoying as my old shoes don't cause this and it is the first time I have worn brooks shoes so do they not suit me? The piggy bank won't stretch to another pair just yet. Could the style of shoe be wrong for me?

Nessie

05/11/2002 at 10:39

Speedy - sounds like you need to break them in a bit more gradually. Wear them around the house and for short runs only at first then gradually build up the mileage, so that your feet have a chance to toughen up in the new places that the shoes press on.

Gusher - you are so right about the compeeds needing time to "fix". I put one on my favourite blister site for Sunday's half, and still got a blister. Why? Because when I took off my sock, the plaster was stuck to my ankle! I guess it needed more than a couple of hours to weld itself onto my skin.

Speedy.G !!!!!!!!!

05/11/2002 at 13:58

Thanks Nessie but I wonder if it could be the shoes. I normally wear mens shoes as I find them more comfortable but Alexander Sports were selling the Brooks Trance ladies for £20 and although I normally take a 7.1/2 I opted for an 8 as I thought they would be a bit smaller being womens. But then if that was the problem then both feet would blister I would think. But then again because of an infection 2 years ago my left leg and foot is much bigger than the right so maybe the shoe is too big on the right. Can you advise or make any suggestions as I can't afford to buy more at the moment.

scooby loo

05/11/2002 at 14:37

my arches are much better now! I have put my old trainer insoles in and wear basic plasters on the arches for just-in-case-protection.

The compatibility with my new trainers is getting better and better with each run as long as I don't over do it. I managed a 7.5mile run on Sat and my feet only started to complain during the last mile.

My advice to you speedy is to take it easy for a while - let the blisters get better (the compeeds do a really good job) and just do some short runs in the new shoes to get used to them.

Looking back I should never have done a 7 mile run in brand new shoes - but we live and learn !!!!

Brooks the beast

05/11/2002 at 15:16

I have had this problem occasionally on my right arch, both with Brooks shoes and also ASICS. The right foot does tend to pronate a lot though. I have used Zinc oxide but I have found that occasionally it blisters around the plaster - so Vaseline it is and it works. I am also considering Bodyglide as an alternative.

Nessie

05/11/2002 at 16:11

Speedy

I only get blisters on one foot, regardless of the shoes, because my left leg pronates more. Twice I have bought shoes and gone straight out for a longish run (1st time 4 miles but that was long then, 2nd time 7 miles) and ended up with blisters. New shoes where I have taken the time to build up slowly (2 miles max for first 3 runs) and worn them around the house, I have been relatively blister free.

Try experimenting with the way you tie your laces to make sure your feet aren't moving around too much, and try the vaseline - it does work.

Speedy.G !!!!!!!!!

05/11/2002 at 16:14

Thanks all I will try changing the insoles and put vaseline on. Also I will try wearing them around the house for a few nights. I can't wear them again until the blister heals a little bit and then I might wear my old ones for a run or two.

Tepster

05/11/2002 at 17:18

I've used vaseline on long runs, and touch wood I've never (!) had blisters when I've used it.