![\"Plantar](\"http:\/\/www.blister-prevention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sub-1st-MPJ-forefoot-ball-met-head-double.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nA quick refresher on skin shear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Blisters are the acute manifestation of repetitive shear distortions<\/a> (callouses are the chronic manifestation). Skin shear can be pictured as the skin being stretched back and forth with every step we take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShear forces are applied to the human foot during walking and running because of the mechanics of foot alignment during contact and propulsion. The foot approaches the ground at a tangential angle (not a purely vertical angle) and then pushes off in a similar tangential direction. The foot must skid to a stop and then push into the ground to propel forward.\u201d<\/p>\nRichie, 2010<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n So what goes into creating the conditions resulting in skin shear? The answer is three-fold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There needs to be a combination of high pressure<\/strong> and high friction levels<\/strong> (ie: high coefficient of friction). This keeps the internal shoe surface adhered to the sock, and the sock adhered to the skin. These are exactly the pressure and friction conditions we see in-shoe during exercise – high weightbearing and shoe contact forces, high temperatures and humidity levels with low evaporation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bones move relative to the skin<\/strong>. The foot and all of its components are not like a rigid block of cement. As Richie stated above, \u201cThe foot must skid to a stop and then push into the ground to propel forward.\u201d Richie is referring to the skidding between skin and bone (not between the shoe and the ground). This skidding is the stretching or skin shear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There need to be sufficient shear repetitions<\/strong> to cause mechanical fatigue and failure within the skin. The longer the activity duration (walking, running, sporting activity), the more likely the blister threshold will be reached for that individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Skin shear is entirely normal, and our skin can put up with a lot of it. Some more than others. There is a large individual variation in blister resistance with some people being more towards the blister prone end of the continuum. When shear occurs to excess, in magnitude or repetition, a tear occurs within the stratum spinosum of the epidermis. This tear is the initial blister injury. Within 2 hours, fluid fills the injury site, this makes the skin bubble up and this is what is familiar to us all as a blister.<\/p>\n\n\n In considering the skin under the first metatarsal head, let’s focus on the anatomical entity of a plantarflexed first ray. A plantarflexed first ray shows the first metatarsal head on a lower plane compared to the other metatarsal heads. It can be stiff (rigid) or compliant (flexible), or somewhere in between. Let\u2019s simplify this and make the distinction between stiff and compliant.<\/p>\n\n\n The difference between a stiff and compliant plantarflexed first ray is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With all other factors of the in-shoe conditions and the activity being equal (ie: friction levels, the number of shear repetitions), the predominant blister-causing forces under the first metatarsal head for each condition are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are numerous orthotic prescription variables a podiatrist can use when designing an orthotic for blisters under the first metatarsal head. With a knowledge of foot function and tissue stress, a podiatrist can choose the relevant orthotic prescription variables for blisters here. The aim is to minimise the damaging forces on the injured tissues. In this case, the skin under the first metatarsal head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of this I learned from Craig Payne through his resources at LaTrobe University, at his Biomechanics Bootcamps<\/a> and at Running Research Junkie<\/a>; and Kevin Kirby’s Precision Intricast Newsletter books<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With pressure being the predominant blister-causing force, pressure reduction could come about with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With bone movement being the predominant blister-causing force, reducing dorsiflexion of the first metatarsal could come about with anything to facilitate the windlass mechanism, either to initiate windlass mechanism sooner or reduce the force required to initiate it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In reality, foot structure is not so black and white. There is still weightbearing pressure under the first metatarsal head of a compliant plantarflexed first ray. The first metatarsal can still dorsiflex and the arch flatten a little with a stiff plantarflexed first ray. Plus, there are coexisting biomechanical factors that may impact on the orthotic prescription variables used. The task for your podiatrist is to determine which factors are most relevant and to prescribe an orthotic device (pre-made, customised or custom-made) with the appropriate prescription variables for your foot structure, function and activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look back at the quick refresher on skin shear. We\u2019ve dealt with pressure and bone movement in the discussion so far. But we\u2019ve assumed the number of shear repetitions and friction levels have remained unchanged. Certainly, you can choose to reduce the number of shear repetitions. But it would mean walking or running shorter distances or less game time. Friction levels are easy to reduce with moisture-management methods, Engo patches, lubricants or powders. There are two further blister prevention strategies your podiatrist may implement. These are: shear absorption, such as with a Spenco orthotic cover; and shear distribution with skin taping techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to blisters under the first metatarsal head, a plantarflexed first ray can be significant in different ways. Consider the forces imparted to the overlying skin when the first ray is stiff and compliant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let’s look at the variable of orthotic prescription for blisters under the first metatarsal head. Your choice will depend on the stiffness of the ray.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[13,14],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1356"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1356"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2620,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1356\/revisions\/2620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pro.blister-prevention.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
Firstly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Secondly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thirdly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The blister injury<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"which](\"http:\/\/www.blister-prevention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sub-1st-MPJ-forefoot-ball-met-head-double-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBlisters under the first metatarsal head<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"orthotic](\"http:\/\/www.blister-prevention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/plantarflexed-first-ray.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nStiff<\/em> versus compliant<\/em> plantarflexed first ray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
With all other factors being equal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Orthotic prescription for blisters under the first metatarsal head<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stiff<\/em> plantarflexed first ray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Compliant<\/em> plantarflexed first ray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Don\u2019t forget repetitions and friction levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wrapping up<\/h4>\n\n\n\n