Open AccessExploring the Mechanism for Blister Prevention Using Moleskin
Author(s) -
Rebecca Rushton
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current sports medicine reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.424
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1537-8918
pISSN - 1537-890X
DOI - 10.1249/jsr.0000000000000768
Subject(s) - blisters , medicine , mechanism (biology) , podiatry , interface (matter) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , forensic engineering , composite material , alternative medicine , materials science , engineering , pathology , philosophy , epistemology , capillary number , capillary action , immunology
Moleskin is a commonly used material in podiatry and sports medicine for blister prevention and treatment. Common understanding regarding its protective mechanism is reduction of friction at the interface between the foot and the sock/shoe. We argue that moleskin may actually increase friction at this interface, but nonetheless prevents blisters by dispersing shear load within the skin across a wider surface area, reducing potential for skin damage.