Summary:
You know about footwear, but what about foot care? From tape to jelly to epsom salt, here are the tools you'll need to keep your feet in good condition.
The part of your body on which the MS Challenge Walk has the greatest impact — pun intended — is your feet. Everyone knows to wear the right sneakers and to break them in well before the walk. But what more can you do to avoid blisters and visits to the medical tent? Here are some tips.
- Wrap your feet in athletic tape, from your toes to your ankles. Don't wrap too tightly! Use Vaseline or Petroleum jelly under the athletic tape.
- Be sure your toenails are trimmed or filed close to the end of your toe, to prevent friction and bumping against your shoes which could result in the loss of toenails!
- Epsom salt foot soaks help soothe tired achy feet! Dissolve a half cup of this mineral into two quarts of very warm water. Pour the water into a foot-soaking pan and soak your bare feet for fifteen to twenty minutes, once or twice a day. Rinse your feet off with clean tap water and dry them thoroughly. This service is provided free to all visitors to the medical tent, whether or not you need to see a medical professional.
Better to look like this than blistered!
Good luck out there!
Don't forget lambs wool between your toes. No friction, no blisters!
I wonder if any of you have suggestions for what to do about a second toe that is longer than the great toe. I think I have a proper fitting shoe now, but am still getting some banging. Cotton wool? Silicone toe covers? Any other ideas? I'm a nurse too and have thought about splinting but can't figure out how to do that without causing other problems.
Hi Barbara,
Try asking your question on the Challenge Walk Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MSChallengeWalkCapeCod
More people would see it there and could have suggestions.