Department of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Nursing Area, Faculty of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, Spain.
Centre for Operations Research, Miguel Hernández University, Spain.
J Tissue Viability. 2023 Aug;32(3):395-400. doi: 10.1016/j.jtv.2023.05.004. Epub 2023 May 21.
Friction blisters are formed by abrasion from frictional forces on the upper layer of the epidermis and can make physical activity an uncomfortable experience. To our knowledge, no previous studies have considered how these injuries affect the functionality of the foot. For this reason, the main aim of this study was to evaluate foot function in hikers, with or without blisters.
This case-control study examined 298 hikers who walked the Camino de Santiago long-distance trail (in northern Spain); 207 had one or more blistering foot lesions and 91 had no blisters. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected, and the number of blisters and their locations on the foot were recorded. All participants self-completed the Foot Function Index (FFI) questionnaire, in their native language.
Pain and disability were significantly greater among the hikers with blisters (pain p=<0.001; disability p = 0.015). However, there were no significant differences in the limitation of physical activity between those with blisters (case group) and the control group (p = 0.144). Neither was there any correlation between the number of blisters and pain, disability or limitation of activity. However, the location of the lesion did influence foot functionality. Blisters on the metatarsal heads were more limiting and caused greater pain (right foot p = 0.009; left foot p = 0.017), greater disability (right foot p = 0.005; left foot p = 0.005), greater limitation of activity (on right foot p = 0.012) and more loss of foot functionality (right foot p = 0.002; left foot p = 0.007).
The hikers with blisters experienced reduced foot functionality in terms of pain and disability. The number of blisters was not related to foot functionality. Blisters located on the metatarsal heads caused the greatest increase in pain, disability and limitation of activity.
摩擦水疱是由表皮上层的摩擦力磨损形成的，会使身体活动变得不舒适。据我们所知，以前没有研究考虑过这些损伤如何影响脚部的功能。出于这个原因，本研究的主要目的是评估有或没有水疱的徒步旅行者的脚部功能。
这项病例对照研究调查了 298 名徒步穿越西班牙北部圣地亚哥之路（Camino de Santiago）的徒步旅行者；207 人有一个或多个水疱性足部病变，91 人没有水疱。收集了社会人口统计学和临床变量，并记录了足部水疱的数量和位置。所有参与者用母语自行填写足部功能指数（FFI）问卷。
有水疱的徒步旅行者的疼痛和残疾程度显著更高（疼痛 p<0.001；残疾 p=0.015）。然而，有疱的病例组和对照组之间在身体活动受限方面没有显著差异（p=0.144）。水疱的数量与疼痛、残疾或活动受限之间也没有相关性。然而，病变的位置确实影响了足部功能。跖骨头的水疱更具限制作用，并引起更大的疼痛（右脚 p=0.009；左脚 p=0.017）、更大的残疾（右脚 p=0.005；左脚 p=0.005）、更大的活动受限（右脚 p=0.012）和更大的足部功能丧失（右脚 p=0.002；左脚 p=0.007）。
有水疱的徒步旅行者在疼痛和残疾方面表现出足部功能降低。水疱的数量与足部功能无关。位于跖骨头上的水疱会导致疼痛、残疾和活动受限显著增加。
