Blisters On Top Of Feet

[[old] Carleneruns]

Hi Folks<br />I am newly addicted to rowing and have been putting in scads of distance on my Concept IIB (bought years ago but still working like a charm). I have been getting blisters on the top of my left foot, just at the base of the big toe. <br /><br />I am a runner and have tried many of my old running/blister tricks (vaseline on feet, different sock combinations, bandaids, moleskin, etc) and so far have not had any luck preventing this problem from getting any worse. <br /><br />I'd really like to fix this as my foot looks quite grossly mashed from the blisters. They are also a bit of a pain in some shoes that I wear. I'm also worried about them getting infected. <br /><br />Would love to hear some advice because I'm out of ideas. I'm really working hard to get my first million meters in and this is starting to become a limiting factor.<br /><br />Thanks<br />Carlene

[[old] PaulS]

Are you wearing shoes, shoes and socks, socks, barefoot?<br /><br />First guess, straps are too tight. See the link below for the Swing Sling, it could easily solve your issue.

[[old] Carleneruns]

Hi Paul<br />Thanks for writing. I am definitely wearing shoes and socks. So far the best socks have been double layer coolmax socks, but even with those I am still having some blister problems. I have tried to adjust the strap tension on different workouts. However I have generally found that a looser strap leads to redness extending up the foot along the first metatarsal. That isn't very comfortable either and so I've been sticking with the tighter strap settings. <br /><br />Carlene<br /><br />PS - I had wondered about this whole rowing barefoot and without straps thing but really couldn't understand how it would work properly. Your strap sling looks somewhat possible but still seems strange to me. I guess I'll have to try it to understand and decide if it works for me.

[[old] PaulS]

<!--quoteo(post=56668:date=Feb 21 2006, 12:33 PM:name=Carleneruns)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Carleneruns @ Feb 21 2006, 12:33 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hi Paul<br />Thanks for writing. I am definitely wearing shoes and socks. So far the best socks have been double layer coolmax socks, but even with those I am still having some blister problems. I have tried to adjust the strap tension on different workouts. However I have generally found that a looser strap leads to redness extending up the foot along the first metatarsal. That isn't very comfortable either and so I've been sticking with the tighter strap settings. <br /><br />Carlene<br /><br />PS - I had wondered about this whole rowing barefoot and without straps thing but really couldn't understand how it would work properly. Your strap sling looks somewhat possible but still seems strange to me. I guess I'll have to try it to understand and decide if it works for me.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Probably the first recommendation I would make would be to get teh retrofit for the Flex foot, if you are still using the Mod B wood footplate alone. The newer flex foot can be used pretty comfortably even in just socks, but it is an improvement over the wood block.<br /><br />Cheers.