Hi Reader,

Friction blisters remain one of the most misunderstood sports and foot health issues, and the misconceptions run deep, even in professional circles. This month, we’re breaking down the four key challenges holding blister management back and showing how a shift in understanding can change prevention outcomes completely.

I hope you enjoy this one!

Rebecca

4 KEY CHALLENGES

Friction Mismanagement

A closer look at why friction blisters are so often mismanaged:

1️⃣ The Word “Friction” – In everyday language it means rubbing; in science, it means resistance to rubbing. This confusion drives decades of misinformation.
2️⃣ Persistent Misconceptions in Literature – Even recent research still describes blisters as abrasions, ignoring 50+ years of evidence pointing to repetitive shear deformation.
3️⃣ Inability to Measure Shear – We can measure pressure precisely, but shear remains elusive at the anatomical site level.
4️⃣ Limited Evidence Base – A few proven interventions exist, but many common preventions haven’t been put to the test.

BLISTER PREVENTION

Moving Beyond "Heat, Moisture, Friction"

Blisters aren’t burns or wear injuries; they’re fatigue injuries caused by repetitive shear deformation within the skin. Here's the structured approach I use to tackle every blister I see.

SCIENCE

Forget the Heat-Moisture-Friction Paradigm

For decades, most blister advice has been built on the idea that heat, moisture, and friction are the cause. But the truth? This model is oversimplified and misleading. The real culprit is shear.

Why it matters

When cause is misunderstood, prevention is hit-and-miss, at best. This is why so many people:

• Push through unnecessary pain
• Lose performance and enjoyment
• Withdraw from events or turn down opportunities
• Spend days recovering instead of staying active

Hello, Shear Paradigm

Shear is the stretching and distortion of the soft tissue layers between skin and bone. Nothing needs to “rub” for a blister to form. Bone movement inside the foot combined with high friction forces causes fatigue injury to the skin layers when repetitive. Once you understand this, prevention becomes predictable and 100% possible.

Forget the heat-moisture-friction model. Focus on identifying high-shear areas and addressing them with targeted solutions, like:

• ENGO Blister Patches for ultra-low-friction relief in specific trouble spots
• Spenco Insoles to absorb shear and lower pressure
• Gel Toe Protectors to cushion and absorb shear around toes

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OFFICE HOURS

4 Key Challenges to the Advancement of Friction Blister Management

The 4 Key Challenges to the Advancement of Friction Blister Management – Understand the real cause, see why misconceptions persist, and learn how to apply a shear-focused prevention framework in practice.
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​🎥 Watch the replay here: The 4 Key Challenges to the Advancement of Friction Blister Management.​

PARTNER WITH US FOR FREE!

ENGO Blister Patches

Blisters aren’t just “rubbing” injuries, they’re caused by excess shear. The fundamental factors are bone movement in the presence of high friction force. ENGO Patches can be used to target these zones with an ultra-low-friction surface applied inside the shoe or on the insole, not on your skin.

By reducing friction only where it’s needed, ENGO prevents blister-causing tissue distortion without affecting foot stability. Each patch lasts up to 300+ miles and is latex-free for sensitive skin. It also works just as well in moist and wet conditions, as it does in dry conditions.

If you’re stocking up for your patients or customers, ENGO Patches are a simple, targeted way to put the shear paradigm into practice.

Becoming a Blister Prevention Wholesale Partner is completely free! Join the growing network of practitioners who are enhancing their blister care offerings while maintaining healthy margins.

Sign up to Blister Prevention Wholesale here.

BLISTER PREVENTION

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