Changes

* Applying a small amount of anti-biotic ointment onto the blister itself can help prevent it getting stuck to the tape and provides a small measure of protection from infection if the blister bursts naturally.

* Dust with powder as a final step so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

==Partially blistered toe==

This is quite a common area to blister.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

* If Injinji socks are not used, then the tape may rub on the next toe. It may be possible to cover part of the next toe with tape to prevent this, rather than taping every toe.

==Completely blistered toe==

A completely blistered toe is unusual, but is especially problematic as there is no skin left to attach the tape to. Instead, tags of tape must be used to attach the tape to the foot.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

* If Injinji socks are not used, then the tape may rub on the next toe. It may be possible to cover part of the next toe with tape to prevent this, rather than taping every toe.

==Side of the big toe==

This is basically the same as the partially blistered toe, but there is a stronger case for cutting open the toe box of the shoe near the blister.

==Sides of heel ==

* [[Blister Prevention#Blisters on the back or sides of the heel|Prevention tips]]

* Small blisters could be left intact, but larger blisters will require popping if the athlete is to continue running.

* Do you have lots of time? Then use the luxury taping approach, otherwise use the rapid approach.

===Rapid===

* Clean the area thoroughly.

* Gently smooth the tape; if there are any creases, pinch them into a few large folds and cut the folds away.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

===Luxury ===

* Clean the area thoroughly.

* Apply strips of Micropore around the edges of the Kinesio-Text tape.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

==Side of ball==

The side of the ball of the foot can be treated much like the sides of heel, but there is more movement due to the bending of the foot. Small blisters can use the rapid approach, but for larger areas, the flexibility of the Kinesio-Tex tape may justify the extra effort. Prevention tips - [[Blister Prevention#Blisters on the sides of the forefoot]].

==Under the ball ==

This is one of the nastiest places to get a blister, as it is the primary part of the foot used for running.

* Apply the adhesive promoter to the undamaged skin either side of the blister.

* Apply tape over the ball of the foot and up either side, but don't circle the foot entirely as this could constrict blood supply.

==Under the heel==

This is similar to the ball of the foot, with the tape applied up either side of the heel. [[Blister Prevention# Blisters under the heel of the foot|Prevention tips]]

==Between the toes==

A blister between the toes can be quite painful, and can easily spread under the foot.

* If time is limited, a simple strip of Kinesio-Tex tape could be used.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

==Back of the heel and Achilles==

A blister here is almost as nasty as under the ball of the foot. Flexibility is required for normal foot movement and there is pressure from the shoe.

* A blister on the back of the heel or Achilles will sometimes require popping if the athlete is to continue running.

* Do you have lots of time? Then use the luxury taping approach, otherwise use the rapid approach.

===Rapid===

* Clean the area thoroughly.

* Gently smooth the tape; if there are any creases, pinch them into a few large folds and cut the folds away.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

===Luxury ===

* Clean the area thoroughly.

* Apply strips of Micropore around the edges of the Kinesio-Text tape.

* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.

=Pre-Taping=

As well is taping a blister that has already occurred, it is possible to take before the race begins. There are advantages and disadvantages to this approach, and if possible, it is far better to avoid the underlying causes of blistering.

==Advantages of pre-taping ==

* If you found no way of preventing the blisters then pre-taping may help.

* Some adhesives seem to become stronger after a day or so.

* Taping a day or two before the race allows you to check the taping fits correctly and is not going to cause a problem.

==Disadvantages of pre-taping ==

* It's harder to check if a blister is forming if you've pre-taped your feet. I've seen a number of runners who were convinced they had blisters when in fact it was just a hotspot.

* It's possible for the tape to ruck up and actually cause a blister rather than prevent one. I've had tape come loose and migrate to a different part of the foot where it caused a blister that would never otherwise have occurred.

* Your feet may swell during the race, and taping can cause constriction. This is especially a problem if you tape around a toe.

==Approaches to pre-taping==

There are two approaches to pre-taping; Spot taping and area taping. Spot taping is where you apply tape to a small area that is blister prone. I have found that this can be a useful approach if you have a particular vulnerability. Area taping involves applying tape to a large portion of the foot, creating what amounts to a tape-based sock. The advantages of area taping are that the edges of the tape are well away from the pressure zones. However, area taping is generally trickier to get right.

==Tapes for pre-taping==

You may find that different takes are appropriate for pre-taping, as there is no blister that requires protection. I generally prefer Micropore for pre-taping, as it is low friction and reduces any stretching forces on the skin.

=Also See=

* [[Book Review - Fixing Your Feet|Fixing Your Feet]] is a great book that includes details of taping