One of the most common things that can put a stop to wearing your favourite closed-in shoes is blisters on the back of the heel. A severe blister can take a week or so to heal and more seriously become infected, requiring antibiotics and daily dressings. Not fun! This week TWH breaks down the most common causes of blisters and how to fix them.
Everyone loves a mule but sometimes a closed in shoe is required, or just looks better with your outfit. But what’s with the rubbing on the back of the heel? Some people are more prone to blisters and there are some very good reasons why. Let’s take a look –
1.The heel counter (closed in section at the back of the shoe) does not match the shape of the heel bone. Some people have a wider calcaneus (heel bone) than others which doesn’t match the shape of the heel counter of the shoe. Simple as that. Fix – You could try a leather conditioner to soften the leather slightly or use a hair dryer on the inside of the shoe and then carefully mould the heel counter to accommodate your heel. A good boot maker could also help you do this. Choosing a wider shoe may be necessary to get a good fit in the future.
2.The shoe is too small. Wearing a shoe that is too small is a recipe for disaster, with an almost guaranteed blister outcome. Fix – Make sure the shoe fits correctly with adequate width and length, taking into account that most feet swell slightly throughout the day, particularly in Summer. One useful tip is to shop at the end of the day!
3.The shoe is too big. You may have seen the recent article about Meghan Markle, commenting on how she combats foot issues by wearing shoes that are too big for her. However if you go up any more than 1/2-1 size it could be a problem. This is because the foot is inclined to compensate for too-big shoes by clawing the toes which will ultimately cause toe deformities. Larger shoes also cause the foot to move more causing friction and blistering! Fix – It’s common sense for this one. The best approach is to wear the correct size.
4. The foot has a bony protrusion on the back of the heel. Some feet have develop Haglund’s deformities over time. This is usually formed when the foot tends to roll in or out too much causing extra bone growth. These feet are more at risk of blistering at the back of the heel and also a painful condition caused bursitis. Fix – An effective method is to use a silicon heel grip and cut out the section where the Haglund’s deformity is. This will remove the direct pressure to the exostosis and reduce the risk of a blister. This trick is great and can be used in any situation where rubbing occurs on the back of the heel. We have a great YouTube video coming on exactly how to do this – so stay tuned.
Want to know exactly which shoes are best for YOUR foot? Why not come shopping with us on The Shoe Equation. We have some fantastic shoe options, especially for those of you that have heel blistering issues.
Until next time,
E&E
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