Podiatrist recommended recovery after completing your Fun Run!

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Our first blog this week addressed what a blister is, how it is formed and what are some things you can be doing to best prevent blisters. This week, we are going to be looking at what to do once a blister has formed and how to manage it as well as some general advice in regards to what to do once you’ve finished a charity run/walk.

As we mentioned in the first blog, blisters form as a protective measure to prevent further damage to the superficial layers of skin. So once a blister has formed, do not pop the blister to release the fluid. Despite its contribution to pain and discomfort, it is there for protective purposes. Popping blisters in a non sterile fashion increases the likelihood of infection dramatically and is best left for your podiatrist to manage. In addition to this, it will likely be uncomfortable as the tender skin under the blister will become exposed. Prior to seeing your podiatrist, dressing the blister with betadine and a bandaid is adequate in managing it safely and wear shoes that you are comfortable in.

The management of blisters is a common presentation podiatrists treat. There are some cases where best management includes just leaving the blister alone, but in most cases an appointment with your podiatrist will include the safe, sterile and pain free debridement of the overlying blister roof and consequent draining of the fluid. When done in a safe manor, the release of the fluid and removal of surrounding skin can speed up the healing process as well as increase comfort immediately in some cases.

If you have just finished a fun run, our advice as podiatrists would be to monitor your feet very carefully over the next few days whilst you’re recovering. Blisters can form slowly even after you have finished the fun run, so to be extra careful you should have some dressings on you at all times so you don’t get caught out and about with a painful blister on your foot.

Assuming you had done some training in preparation for the fun run, take some days or a week off of training to adequately recover. Following this, take the opportunity to remain consistent with your movement goals. You’ve already done the hard work of fine tuning your body to withstand a big run, so you could continue on with any form of movement or exercise that you find enjoyable.

Good luck to those participating in any events in the coming months!

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