How to not get blisters from basketball

Tips to Prevent and Treat Blisters

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Gregory P. Tayler, MD Jul 13, 2018

Anyone who exercises frequently knows foot blisters are an uncomfortable and unfortunate part of being active. If you bike, run, or even hike, you know a blister can literally stop you in your tracks. But thankfully, a blister doesn't mean the end of your fun. Thinking ahead can help prevent blisters and it's important to know how to treat them. Start with these tips.

You have a blister, now what?

Stop and adjust

When you get a blister it's important to stop whatever activity you're participating in and decide how to treat it. Powering through the pain can make your blister pop or even become infected. Readjusting your footwear can help prevent your blister from becoming larger. Straighten out bunched socks. Change your socks for a dry pair if they're sweaty or wet, and change your shoes if they're causing you discomfort.

Use padding

Blister pads, bandages, or moleskin are all great options for preventing blisters. Padding can also protect existing blisters. Keep in mind that not all pads stay in place effectively. You may need to try several options before finding one that works for you.

To pop or not to pop?

The best scenario for treating a blister is to keep it intact. Popping can increase the opportunity for infections to form. Most blisters will heal themselves if you give them a few days. If you have a large blister that's affecting your walking, it might be better to pop it. Follow these steps to safely pop a blister:

• Check for signs of infection (pus that's green or yellow in color and swelling). If the blister is infected you should contact your doctor.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, then clean the blister with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
• Sterilize a needle with rubbing alcohol.
• Locate the blister's edge and poke it with the needle in several places. Use clean gauze to soak up the fluid that comes out.
• Apply antibiotic ointment over the blister and cover with gauze and tape or a bandage.
• After several days you can cut away the dead skin and apply more ointment, then bandage again until healed.
• Throughout this process, keep your blister clean. This will prevent infection.

Tips for preventing blisters

If you're active and tend to get blisters often, here are tips to help prevent new blisters from forming.

• Wear better shoes. Shoes are often the culprit when it comes to blisters forming on your feet. Avoid shoes that rub certain areas of your feet or that cramp or squeeze your feet. The right shoe can make all the difference. New shoes may give you a blister the first few times you wear them. Take it slow and easy as you break in a new pair of shoes.
• Wear better socks. Choose non-cotton socks that wick away moisture. If you know you'll be doing blister-inducing activities, double up your socks. One layer will soak up moisture and the other layer will give extra padding. Double-layer socks are more expensive but may help you avoid blisters. If you're in for a long run or hike, change your socks partially through, or whenever they become moist. Good socks can be expensive, but they're worth the cost if they keeps you from getting blisters.
• Lubricate your feet before you exercise. Friction causes blisters, so it stands to reason that reducing friction can help reduce blisters. Rub petroleum jelly or other lubricants designed for runners on problem spots on your feet. That way your feet will slide around rather than rub.
• Keep the calluses. It's tempting to shave off or pumice down unsightly calluses, but they help protect your feet.
• Keep your feet dry. Other than changing your socks regularly, you can add corn starch or talcum powder to your shoes and socks to help wick up moisture. If you're going a long distance, take a minute to add more powder partially through your event.
• Cover areas that are prone to blister. Just like you'd cover up a blister after it formed, you'll want to pad areas that are prone to blistering. The extra layer of protection helps to prevent a blister from forming.

Sports Medicine

Last Updated: 11/15/2018

• Sports Medicine

Copyright ©2022, Intermountain Healthcare, All rights reserved.

Care, Prevention & The Shoes

I personally get an average span of 1 to 3 blisters every couple of months, particularly when it’s the off-season and our group of guys bang it out in the park almost until dark. So are there tried-and-true tactics to prevent blisters in basketball, you ask?

In order for me to give you an answer that’s meaningful, we need to first understand how and why a blister forms, how to properly treat it to mitigate the chances of reappearance, and what footwear to choose to make the life of hoops easier. Let’s do all of that right now.

I. THE NEED-TO-KNOW ON BLISTERS

How does it form? Why? Can we treat it? Prevent it? We must stick to credible research & the tried-and-true stuff

None of us can fully control or completely prevent blisters.

However, I’ve noticed, tested, and researched what are usually the main tendencies that possibly cause blisters and what are some of the things we can do to help fight them through my years of being into sports & playing basketball.

First, let’s break down how exactly a blister forms.

You guessed it – friction. Especially common among active individuals, a blister is caused by an overwhelming amount of frictional forces between the skin area and the material/object that comes in contact with it.

So, you play ball in your hoop shoes, sweat builds up inside the shoe causing even more friction and if a part of your shoe constantly rubs an area of your skin during various movements, it can potentially form a blister.

But if we’re talking specifics, a recent study on friction blisters by Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH described the exact pathophysiology (the process of blister creation) by having subjects rub the skin at a consistent, constant force.

Turns out, a mild form of exfoliation (the process of dead skin cell removal) takes place on the rubbed area of the skin which means a layer of your skin cells (commonly dead cells) is removed.

With that, slight erythema (skin irritation, reddening) also appears on that focal point of the skin.

Next, a zone of pallor (skin getting pale) forms around the irritated area, and over time, the pallor extends into the core of the erythematous skin area and this forms a blister.

This results in discomfort, especially if you’re playing a sport like basketball and need to move around. Quickly. The pale area of the skin that looks like a bubble is the outer layer of the blister and is referred to as the roof.

Peeling off the top means you’re deroofing the blister and leaving the area susceptible to infections and further irritation. We’ll talk about what you should do with this later.

But why should we take blisters seriously? Not every human is equal and for some, a simple blister that gets infected might be very severe or even dangerous.

Impetigo is the most common bacteria that forms inside blisters and can turn into something as serious as cellulitis or sepsis.

The likelihood of a blister emerging on your skin is based on the level of friction force as well as the number of times the problematic spot is rubbed against an object in a consistent manner.

The most problematic areas of the skin are thick, adherent areas. This means you’ll usually see blisters forming on the palms, heels, soles, and dorsa of the fingers.

Most research & studies you’ll find on blisters will be based on subjects that are in the military or they’re athletes.

Both fields can be taken as solid, practical examples that tell us a bit about what causes blisters and what are the main tendencies in terms of your apparel, human-specific differences, and external factors.

The same study on blisters found out that socks of different properties, the way your shoes fit, moist buildup, and even gender all have effects on the formation of blisters.

Wearing socks that don’t induce as much friction against the skin proved to help decrease the chances of your skin getting irritated.

Heat and sweat build-up inside a shoe can accelerate the chances of a blister emerging since your skin can become macerated (overly softened skin), thus becoming more susceptible to irritation.

However, the moisture factor is a bit of a tricky one. Moist on the skin surface can actually increase friction and thus possibly cause a blister while especially moist skin can actually decrease friction, creating a lubrication effect.

Some interesting stuff was also found regarding gender-specific factors. Turns out that the female skin is naturally more sensitive to friction while it’s moist. Guys – you’re in luck with this one.

We’ll talk about the specifics of treatment & prevention methods in the later section but there’s something important to know about it first.

You need to stick to proven, tested methods to ensure you’re not doing more harm than good.

There are a bunch of claims lurking in the realms of the Internet which may or may not help treat a blister but believe it or not, some of the stuff suggested can even be risky for your own health.

Let’s talk about the practices you should avoid before getting into the meat.

A good example would be a 1995 study on blisters by J J Knapik. It’s still widely available online and it’s actually among the first sources that appear when you look up blisters even today.

There’s some good information there that’s still valuable today but it also claims that the use of any antibiotics doesn’t help the healing of a blister in any form.

On the contrary, a recent study from 2021 has indicated that using a topical containing nitrofurazone, of which some antibiotic ointments are made, does in fact help heal a partially or fully deroofed blister.

Having said that, DON’T just grab an antibiotic thinking it’ll take care of the irritation.

You must ensure you’re getting the correct ointment first. But the idea of antibiotic ineffectiveness when treating blister inflammation is false.

Another good example is the use of various antiperspirants or “anti-blister” sprays as some brands love to market them. Such products are created to help lower the hydration of the skin.

However, the above-mentioned study has also proven that such products simply yield no evidence that they help prevent or heal blisters. The only form of such a product that is proven to help is foot powder.

Now that you know about the things to look out for & avoid, let’s get into the meat of the guide.

II. HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CURRENT BLISTER

Tested & proven methods that can help ease up your blister nightmares

Let’s face it – there’s no magic trick or solution to completely stop blisters from giving you discomfort. They don’t heal overnight either – so you’ll have to stay patient and stick to the things that can help deal with the blister.

The first part of the guide is treating your current blister. If you’re experiencing pain or having trouble playing basketball, check out the following tips below!

The very first thing you MUST do is distinguish what you’re working with.

Got a nasty blister on your foot? You need to make sure it’s not infected first. While most blisters, infected or not, can be painful and cause discomfort, there are a few signs to look for to make sure you don’t have a more serious issue on your hands.

If a blister is infected, you could notice one or several of the following symptoms:

• warmth around the area of the blister
• iffy smell
• pus
• overwhelming pain
• visible holes in the blister
• peeling skin around the infected area

So if you’ve got any of these, I highly advise consulting a doctor for treatment since messing around with an infected blister yourself can worsen the issue and even spread the infection throughout your skin.

However, most of the time a blister doesn’t appear infected as long as you don’t turn it into one. If you don’t have any of the mentioned symptoms and it looks just like a regular blister, you have some options.

The biggest question here is whether to pop it or not.

I’ve been an advocate on both sides actually but as I’ve gotten older I eventually found myself sticking to what the science/medical expertise says and that seems to be working well so far.

I’m not a huge fan of popping a blister when I see one but there could be times when it’s okay to do it.

Here’s the gist of it. If you’re not feeling too much discomfort and can still do your sport/activity in a full or near-full capacity, there’s simply no reason to pop it.

You’ll end up with more pain and an open wound that will need to heal over time, causing you to be stopped in your tracks because people usually tear the blister apart while trying to pop it.

However, research says it’s good to drain it but only while keeping the roof intact. This is recommended if you can’t properly function and this blister is very painful & causes an immense amount of discomfort.

If you pop it and peel off the roof, you’re starting at day 1 again as the healing process will be lengthened. Here’s how to drain the blister while keeping the roof intact:

Based on various studies done as well as my own personal experience – it’s usually the shoes that are the main culprit for emerging blisters.

Some of you have preferences as to how you like your basketball shoes to fit. However, sometimes, that can fail to align properly with ensuring less friction and ultimately preventing blisters.

So if you can’t fight off blisters when you’re active, pay attention to how your shoes fit first. You’ll want to make sure you’re feeling comfortable and secure, obviously.

However, by saying comfortable, I don’t mean leaving inches of dead space and playing in a loosy goosy sneaker.

The same thing for security – a secure fit doesn’t mean an overly tight, suffocating one that ends up causing blisters rather than preventing them. You’ll want to find that in-between solution.

Length-wise, leave about a thumb’s width of space up at the toes. Some people prefer a complete one-to-one fit, meaning there’s just enough space for your foot inside the shoe. That’s fine as long as you’re feeling comfortable.

What’s not fine is having more room than you need. Anything significantly more than a thumb’s width could be entering dangerous territory.

Width-wise, you should be feeling the material wrapping around your foot in a snug manner. Avoid feeling overly suffocated though.

If you’re a wide-footer like me, you need to take that into account while getting a new shoe/trying to play in your current shoe.

Lastly, you MUST ensure your foot isn’t moving inside the footbed at all. No exceptions.

If you feel your heel shifting during certain movements, or your foot is shifting forward and back, or anything along those lines – you’re in trouble.

Play around with the laces and try to optimize the fit. Remember, unnecessary & rapid movement of the skin against an object causes friction. Friction causes blisters.

For additional insight on staying comfortable and hassle-free in your hoop shoes, here’s my heel slippage guide, proper fit guide & best shoes for wide footers

Let’s say you find your current kicks not fitting optimally. You’ve got a blister that’s annoying you but you’re not looking to grab a new pair of shoes.

While adjusting the fit won’t completely eliminate the presence of a blister, it absolutely CAN help deal with it easier.

Let’s say you’ve got a blister on your toe or any area at the front of your foot for that matter. Try out MRFOAMERSIMPSON’S lacing technique!

He calls it the “bunny ears” and having tried it myself (mostly to reduce heel slippage on certain shoes), I absolutely find value in it for a handful of sneakers.

Here’s how to perform this method.

This will lock you down even further and drive the heel back to improve the overall experience and possibly reduce any fit imbalances you might’ve had inside the shoe.

This might reduce discomfort at the front portion of your foot if there’s a blister there. The least you can do is try it out – it’s free.

If your shoes are all good, the next step is the socks. First, make sure to fix any bunched-up spots, fix up any loose areas. Also, remember that moisture inside the shoe = friction more easily irritating the skin.

You’ll want to swap out a moist pair of socks for a dry pair to not worsen your blister.

If the blister is still bothering you, double up your socks for more padding as that will act as protection against further friction. Ideally, a thin polyester sock should be underneath a thicker performance sock or a wool-based sock.

The use of acrylic socks has been proven to cause the least friction, so if you have those – put those on and protect your feet against additional discomfort.

A painful blister can be hard to deal with, no matter what socks or what kind of shoes you’re wearing at the moment.

If I got a session planned that day and my blister still hasn’t healed up properly, I usually pad them which helps a bit.

Not a lot in terms of feel but this ensures the blister won’t get infected and its healing process won’t be hindered as much.

If your blister is still intact and has a roof – moleskin bandages/pads will do the trick best. You can also get some of those “blister pads” some companies make but they’re more marketing than something actually catered towards managing blisters. You’ll usually find standard, well-padded bandages if you get one of those.

If your blister is damaged or deroofed – you’ll need to treat it as an open wound. Apply an antiseptic to prevent any infections and pad the area with a hydrocolloid dressing. Those are found to be the most effective in accelerating the healing process & relieving some of the pain.

If you’ve got a toe blister – look for padding in the form of toe caps. You can also find those in the form of moleskin.

Something I’m sure a lot of people still overlook. Before and after each and every session, I highly recommend ensuring your kicks are fully dry.

We don’t want to begin with even a trace of moisture as that’s a recipe for disaster. I always dry my sneakers on the balcony with the windows open to let the fresh air do the work.

A simple tip but something you should get into the habit of doing if you haven’t already.

Lastly, let’s go full circle and go back to the shoes. You can try all the methods in the world in the form of socks, padding, you name it.

But if your shoe is causing discomfort and there’s not a lot you can do about it – it’s time to switch. Your wallet will have to handle the load here but your feet will most definitely thank you.

Avoid playing in overly stiff shoes if you’ve already got a blister as that might worsen the issue.

Leather, nubuck, or stiff synthetic-based builds that don’t move much with your foot isn’t a good idea when you’re dealing with blisters.

Also, if you’ve got a brand new pair just recently but got a blister that’s bothering you – I highly suggest waiting until you’re all healed up.

Breaking in new shoes can sometimes be an uncomfortable and even lengthy process and that won’t do any favors for your skin irritation.

III. HOW TO PREVENT BLISTERS IN BASKETBALL

Your go-to plan to reduce the chances of blister formation

The second half of the guide is devoted to future blister prevention.

The same principle stands – there’s no way to fully prevent them but you can do a handful of things to ensure your foot is in the best possible position in terms of preventing blisters.

Let’s start with something simple but VERY important…

No basketball shoe starts at 100%. Performance footwear utilizing raw materials such as leather or suede will need a good amount of time to feel as they’re intended to feel.

Such materials need to be broken in so they can properly mold to your foot’s shape and start moving better with your foot.

Because of this, the first couple of weeks can feel questionable in a brand new pair of sneakers. What does this have to do with blisters? Quite a lot, actually.

It’s all about awareness here – don’t panic if things are uncomfortable at first.

Don’t push yourself too hard in a new pair and gradually increase the load. This will reduce the chances of your skin getting irritated due to stiff materials not budging when you move.

If you’re just coming off of a freshly healed-up blister, I don’t personally recommend breaking in new shoes, especially if they’re built with a lot of structure.

If you don’t have another pair that’s broken in – that’s fine. Just be careful, don’t push too hard too soon, check out my shoe break-in guide, and use the tips below to ensure you’re doing everything you can!

Once again, you’ll want to make sure the shoe fits you properly. It should feel snug and secure but not overly tight as that can cause suffocation for your feet.

Ideally, you’ll want to end up with a thumb’s width of space for your toes length-wise. Width-wise, there should be minimal-to-no extra space and no side-to-side movements. Your foot SHOULD NOT move inside the shoe.

If it does, this will cause additional friction. If you’re having trouble achieving such a fit, use the earlier-mentioned “bunny ears” lacing trick to shift your heel to the back of the shoe and improve the overall fit.

I personally tend to get the most blisters when I’m playing in a shoe that causes my foot to slightly shift forward upon certain movements.

This results in toe bumps and my toes feeling banged up after a session and also additional friction that irritates the skin.

I LOVE playing in the classic Dame 3 and also the more recent Curry 8 Flow but ironically, those two shoes have been causing blisters for me quite often since I experience a lot of toe bumps in them.

I still play in those and I do think those are fantastic on-court performers but they’re also good examples of what you should avoid when preventing blisters. We’ll talk about proper shoe selection in the later section.

If a shoe is properly fitting you, it’s broken in and you’re still getting tons of blisters – chances are your skin is more sensitive and prone to irritation when moving against a rough surface.

You want to ensure you’re doing everything you can to combat this, so for your future sneakers, opt for builds utilizing softer, more “forgiving” compounds.

Knits, wovens, thin mesh materials, and soft fabrics/textiles are all viable options to minimize the impact of rough contact with your skin.

It’s no coincidence I usually have the least amount of trouble regarding blisters and even general foot fatigue after playing in a basketball shoe that represents the modern era of shoe design.

Nike’s Flyknit & Flyweave, adidas’s Primeknit, and PUMA’s evoKnit are all great examples of a true modern hoop shoe material.

The Curry 8 Flow wouldn’t be a great example even though it’s a knit-based build. The movement inside the footbed & toe bumps make it a tough sell for someone who’s blister prone but you get the idea.

Another critical factor is socks. There have been various studies done on the effect of different material socks and their relation to the possibility of blisters.

Mostly tested on athletes and military personnel, it has been found that acrylic socks tend to cause the least friction with the skin.

If you’re playing ball, chances are you’re aware of performance basketball socks. Most of ’em actually do a solid job of wicking away moisture, keeping the foot dry and friction-free.

However, you’ll still want to ensure you’re getting fairly thick, moisture-wicking socks that don’t move against your skin while playing.

Like a lot of hoopers, I found Nike’s Elite socks to be among the most comfortable and effective in wicking away moisture & staying comfy. Under Armour’s HeatGear stuff is also very solid.

If you’re getting ready for a long, hardcore session and you’re prone to getting blisters, doubling up your socks is a good idea.

The formula that usually works best is you’d slap on a thin pair of polyester socks as the first layer and then a pair of your usual performance socks OR thicker wool/polypropylene socks as the second layer.

The key is having enough padding to protect the skin from getting irritated as well as wicking away excess moisture. Always think about these two factors when choosing socks.

Everyone who’s prone to blisters can pad areas that are the most likely to get irritated: soles, balls of the feet, toes, and heels.

I’m not saying you should have your foot wrapped up in 20 bandages each time you play but proper padding definitely reduces the chances of nasty stuff happening. Especially when moisture comes into play.

So if you’ve recently had a blister on your sole – apply a bandage on it before you play, as well as several other areas that could be prone to such issues.

Once again, you can use blister pads, moleskin bandages, moleskin toe caps, or hydrocolloid dressings if you’ve got a deroofed blister.

A lot of products that are marketed as “anti-blister” attempt to decrease the hydration of the skin to prevent moisture build-up.

Based on the study I’ve talked about, it turns out the only products that actually have a proven positive effect are foot powders.

Talcum powder and corn starch work best to keep your foot inside the sock dry and avoid possible blisters. So, before an active session, apply some powder to your feet.

Don’t be afraid to put a lot of it since it can only help. Then you can put your socks on and add some more powder to the socks as well.

Aside from the use of powders, you’ll of course want to make sure you’re always playing in dry shoes & swapping moist socks into dry ones (if you can) to keep things optimal.

Remember what we talk about earlier – moisture can have a negative effect while trying to fight blisters but an extensive amount of moisture can temporarily help as lubrication is a direct antidote against friction.

The best product for lubrication is still petroleum jelly. Yes, that means go grab some vaseline.

Before a session, apply some petroleum jelly on areas that come in contact with your shoes: heels, toes, soles, sides of the feet, etc.

You don’t want to go overboard with vaseline though and avoid using it for many hours per day on a regular basis.

Why? Remember what we learned from the studies. Skin maceration isn’t a good thing when it comes to blisters.

Friction will become even more of an enemy in such a case, so make sure you’re not constantly marinating your feet in vaseline as the method can become less effective and even harmful.

How does cushioning help prevent blisters? It’s fairly simple and it helps in two ways.

One, evenly distributed cushion for a foot means that it can take some pressure off the blister and distribute it across the whole foot.

Today’s performance insoles are made with this in mind – the cushioning doesn’t just compress and spring back into place.

It actually spreads the forces of impact evenly across the foot while compressing and that’s a win when you’re trying to avoid blisters.

No single peak pressure point becomes susceptible to blisters as you’re spreading the force across the whole area.

Two, insoles that offer cushion can help absorb shear so that your skin won’t have to handle all the load. You can read about the effects of shear modulus here.

With all that said, you don’t want to have too much cushion underfoot as that can affect performance and the mechanics of your movements.

99% of basketball shoes today already offer cushion but it’s still a good idea to grab an aftermarket insole and put it in in case your current shoe might be a little lackluster in this department.

IV. PREVENT BLISTERS IN BASKETBALL: THE SHOES

Time to talk about some shoes! I thought it would be helpful to share some of my current favorites I’m playing in that don’t usually cause blisters.

While I am using some of the methods I’ve talked about myself, it’s the shoes that have the biggest effect on the task at hand.

Now, this doesn’t mean these three shoes will guarantee you won’t get any more blisters from now as everybody’s different, I still want to share what currently works well for me.

I’m sure at least one of the options could help you out and if not, these are also good examples of what you should be looking for when getting a new pair.

NIKE KOBE A.D. NXT 360

FULL REVIEW

The very first shoe that came to my mind is the awesome Kobe A.D. NXT 360. It’s a pricy one but if you can get your hands on it – you’re in for a treat.

360 degrees of Flyknit all over the shoe is there to greet your foot. Inside, outside, it’s everywhere. I love this minimal, ultra-lightweight build that’s buttery soft for my foot once the material wrapped around it in a few days.

No hotspots, no pinching, no movement inside the shoe, none of that nonsense. Just pure comfort.

For cushion, there’s a removable React & Lunarlon midsole which is very well-balanced. I’m low to the ground, quick but also well-cushioned. A fantastic setup for most guys in my opinion.

The rest of the shoe is stellar as well: good traction, extremely lightweight support, and premium build quality. I don’t recommend taking these outdoors too often though and for heavy/explosive players, you might need something with a bit more structure.

NIKE LEBRON SOLDIER 13

FULL REVIEW

LeBron’s secondary signature line is consistently putting out solid well-rounded performers and I found myself returning to the 13th Soldier shoe the most often.

While it might not ideally fit all anti-blister criteria on paper as this build isn’t among the softtest or thinnest, the fit I always get with these is no short of perfect.

A near one-to-one fit with my foot, spectacular foot containment no matter the movement, and once I pull those straps, it’s game over for any foot movement.

For cushion, we’ve got Zoom Air units in the heel and forefoot and even though they’re not anything special, they get the job done in providing moderate impact protection & enough comfort to feel confident on the court.

Never got a single blister on my soles in these, so I’ll take it.

The LeBron Soldier 13 also has great traction that’s viable for outdoor play, unmatched all-around security, and a structured ripstop fabric upper.

NIKE LEBRON 16

FULL REVIEW

Another LeBron shoe but this time, let’s shift to LeBron’s main signature line and the year 2018 when this one launched. No issues in the fit department: a snug fit that’s not overly tight but locks my foot in very nicely.

The upper utilizes Battleknit 2.0 which is a structured knit material. Super comfy, no painful collisions with my foot either.

For cushioning, here’s a beefy setup for you: full-length Max Air along with a bunch of articulated Zoom pods under your foot.

This is literally running on a bouncy mattress so you won’t need an extra insole. But the awesome thing is, these still feel well-balanced. I was never sluggish despite having lots of cushioning.

The LeBron 16 also boasts fantastic traction and it’s among my favorite outdoor choices! Great support too, without overly restricting you. And as I always mention, Battleknit 2.0 is probably the most durable knit-based material I’ve seen on a hoop shoe.

V. YOUR SHOE KNOWLEDGE CONTINUES!

There’s always more to know & take advantage of: dive deep into the guides!

Now that you know all about the ways to prevent blisters in basketball – your shoe knowledge journey continues!

There’s so much misleading information out there that is either based on marketing and selling a product or on bro science & myths that are still taken as legit information in the sneaker world.

I try to do my best in filtering out the B.S. and giving my personal, research-based, and personal experience-based insight that I’m sure would help out one or two of you.

So if you’re feeling it, I urge you to check out my other shoe guides & best shoe lists on topics that I believe are the most important to know about.

Check ’em out in the Shoe Guides and Best Basketball Shoes Ever menu sections or find some related topics below.

As always, I’m super curious to hear what you think about this! Do you suffer from blisters while playing ball? What are some of your methods of prevention? Perhaps you’ve got a question I haven’t answered in the guide?

Drop a comment here or visit the social profiles (Facebook, Twitter) and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

RELATED BASKETBALL SHOE TOPICS

 

ANTI-HEEL SLIPPAGE GUIDE

SHOE BREAK-IN GUIDE

MINIMALIST BASKETBALL SHOES

WIDE FOOTER'S SHOES

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How to protect yourself from injuries when playing basketball

2 minutes to read

Basketball is a contact and dynamic game where contact with an opponent, work with the body and legs are inevitable. In terms of the number of injuries, basketball is second only to martial arts. The knees, ankles, and Achilles tendons are most commonly injured. This does not mean that you can no longer play your favorite game. It is important to follow a few guidelines to reduce the risk of injury and continue to play for fun.

Body temperature at rest is lower than during physical activity. That is why it is necessary to prepare the ligamentous apparatus, muscles and tendons for the upcoming loads. Pay attention to every part of the body, especially the arms, legs and back. The warm-up may include light jogging, joint exercises, and ball exercises. Basketball has a lot of short explosive runs and not warming up before them will increase the risk of injury.

There are always jumps in the game of basketball players - during shots, rebounds, block shots. Shoes soften impacts from landings, reduce the load on the joints and give additional jumping ability. Basketball shoes have non-slip soles so that movements on the floor are clear and stable. Additional ankle support will help with a weak ligamentous apparatus.

Models with Concept Power Frame system under the insole reduce the risk of foot dislocation. Often shoes are tied with both laces and Velcro to fix the legs.

You can play basketball both indoors and outdoors. When playing in the hall, opt for loose shorts and a T-shirt. Clothing should not restrict movement or interfere. You can wear two pairs of thin socks to avoid blisters and chafing.

Basketball has long used compression stockings, shirts and sleeves that improve blood flow, wick away sweat and create a second skin effect. The underwear is made without seams and will not rub the skin during the game.

During the game, basketball players can contact not only other players, but also the surface of the court. To soften the force of blows and give additional protection, protection for the knees, wrists and elbows, as the most common places of injury, allows. To fix the ligaments and support the joints, special bandages are used, which allow you to distribute the load due to compression and avoid injuries during the game.

There are also more substantial options - foam knee pads. They are light, breathable and do not restrict movement. The effect is achieved due to the EVA material - it is a lightweight foam material that absorbs shocks.

All protection dries quickly and wicks away moisture. It will not burden you during the game.

Decathlon teamed up with the NBA to launch an original line of apparel and shoes featuring league team emblems. You can choose the form and protection with the symbols of your favorite team.

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The most effective ways to avoid the appearance of calluses on the feet

May 20, 2016TipsHealth

Usually I prefer comfortable shoes, and still a couple of times during the summer there are unsuccessful walks that end in quite serious damage to the skin of the feet. I'm out of action for a week and can't run or walk normally. Once again, having “killed” my legs, I decided to collect ways that help to avoid the appearance of calluses on my legs, and at the same time share them with Lifehacker readers.

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Recommendations that save you from blisters can be divided into 4 groups:

1. The right choice of shoes.
2. Preparing shoes for extended wear.
3. Preparation of legs for increased loads.
4. Insurance directly on the walk.

The right choice of shoes

Naturally, shoes should be comfortable (even if they are high heels). And convenient right away. Do not be fooled by the assurances of sellers that over time the pair will spread. As for the materials, the question is ambiguous. Of course, natural ones are usually better. But where have you seen sneakers made from natural fabrics? Sometimes modern synthetic materials are even better than those from mother nature. However, we can say with confidence: the better the shoes “breathe”, the less likely it is to ruin your feet.

An unobvious trick when buying shoes is choosing the time to try them on. It is better if it is the evening after a full day of work, when the legs swell a little. This is how you can choose a model that will not create problems later.

Go shopping in the evening for a new pair of shoes.

There is one more nuance: for many people, the sizes of the left and right feet are different. Well, if we are talking about a couple of millimeters. But it is likely that the difference is greater (half a size or even a whole size). If you are not ready to buy two pairs of each model, at least use insoles of different thicknesses or special inserts that are sold in shoe stores, pharmacies and orthopedic salons. But do not buy a pair that is the size of a smaller foot - the other leg will not become smaller from this, and walking will be uncomfortable.

Preparing shoes for extended wear

In other words, gradual wear. Don't wear new shoes all day long. Wear it a couple of times for a short walk with your dog or to the nearest store. And if you can't wait, there are a few quick ways:

• use special shoes for breaking in shoes, which you can buy in a shoe store;
• Stuff shoes tightly with wet towels and leave overnight;
• wear thick socks.

If time is running out, heating with a hair dryer will speed up the process.

Preparing the feet for increased stress

Calluses appear when the feet are too wet or too dry, and when the skin is too thin.

Excessive sweating of the feet is very difficult to deal with. But you can at least partially solve this problem if you dry your shoes well (get the insoles, use UV dryers), use antiperspirants for your feet or powder (talc), make baths with herbs (horsetail, mint, chamomile). You should also get rid of foot fungus - healing creams really help if you follow the instructions. Sports socks help wick moisture away.

In order for the skin to be more resistant to damage, it should not be too dry. Foot creams do an excellent job of nourishing the skin, and at the same time can have an additional deodorizing effect. If you remember this already on a walk, hygienic lipstick will help - you can buy it at any pharmacy and in most supermarkets. Lubricate with it especially prone to the appearance of corns.

If the skin is too thin, tanning agents will help. Many plants contain tannin: tea, oak, chestnut - usually those that have an astringent taste. Baths and creams with their extracts will help make the skin firmer.

Callus-resistant skin of the feet is usually not too thin, it is dry, but not overdried. If yours is not like this, care procedures will help.

It also makes sense to strengthen the muscles of the foot. Spreading and squeezing fingers, lifting objects from the floor with your toes, rotations are extremely simple exercises that can be done while sitting at your desk.

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