title: A prospective randomized blister prevention trial assessing paper tape in endurance distances (Pre-TAPED).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Friction foot blisters are a common injury occurring in up to 39% of marathoners, the most common injury in adventure racing, and represent more than 70% of medical visits in multi-stage ultramarathons. The goal of the study was to determine whether paper tape could prevent foot blisters in ultramarathon runners.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective randomized trial was undertaken during RacingThePlanet 155-mile (250-km), 7-day self-supported ultramarathons in China, Australia, Egypt, Chile, and Nepal in 2010 and 2011. Paper tape was applied prerace to one randomly selected foot, with the untreated foot acting as the own control. The study end point was development of a hot spot or blister on any location of either foot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-six participants were enrolled with 90 (66%) having completed data for analysis. There were 36% women, with a mean age of 40 ± 9.4 years (range, 25-40 years) and pack weight of 11 ± 1.8 kg (range, 8-16 kg). All participants developed blisters, with 89% occurring by day 2 and 59% located on the toes. No protective effect was observed by the intervention (47 versus 35; 52% versus 39%; P = .22), with fewer blisters occurring around the tape on the experimental foot than under the tape (23 vs 31; 25.6% versus 34.4%), yet 84% of study participants when queried would choose paper tape for blister prevention in the future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although paper tape was not found to be significantly protective against blisters, the intervention was well tolerated with high user satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine (Drs Lipman and Lissoway). Electronic address: grantlip@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Grant S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lipman
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare, Spartanburg, SC (Dr Ellis).
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, CA (Dr Lewis).
authors.forename: Erica J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of California Davis School of Medicine (Dr Waite), Davis, CA.
authors.forename: Brandee L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Waite
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine (Drs Lipman and Lissoway).
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lissoway
authors.affiliation: Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, CA (Dr Chan).
authors.forename: Garrett K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA (Dr Krabak).
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Krabak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001458:Bandages; D001768:Blister / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002677:Chile; D002681:China; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012420:Running; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: blisters; feet; multistage; paper tape; prevention; ultramarathon