Friction blisters on the feet: A critical assessment of current prevention strategies

Abstract

Friction blisters are a common injury of the feet suffered by individuals participating in sporting, recreational and military activities. The high incidence of friction blisters brings into question the effectiveness of common prevention strategies. The purpose of this article is to review current evidence for established blister prevention strategies and explore how these interventions address the factors which cause friction blisters. Preventive strategies will be proposed focusing on previous overlooked elements of the blister-causing mechanism. Areas of future research will be outlined which are much needed to reduce this common skin injury in active individuals.