ENGO founder discusses blisters in Runner’s World Article

ENGO Blister Prevention Patches features in Runner’s World Article discussing the long history of blister treatment.

“The search for a targeted solution to blisters inspired Marty Carlson, who spent 16 years as Director of Habilitation Technologies, to develop a self-adhesive film that combines slippery PTFE with an adhesive backing like a Compeed. Crucially, unlike Compeed, you do not apply an ENGO patch to the skin. Instead, it goes directly on the shoe, creating a more durable alternative than materials affixed to sweaty feet.

ENGO, Carlson says, allows the skin in that at risk location to glide a small amount back and forth experiencing less friction-induced shear. The coefficient of friction of materials used in shoe insoles, uppers and the material at the back of the heel is typically between 0.5 to 0.8, ENGO patches, by contrast, have a top surface-to-sock interface CoF of 0.2. Carlson claims that they can reduce the maximum possible surface friction/traction by approximately 60-75 per cent in blister-prone locations.

Unlike with other approaches, moisture makes little difference. With virtually all insole surface materials, moisture in the 0-30 per cent range by weight will increase the CoF. But the CoF between a sock and an ENGO patch is consistently close to 0.2 or less.”

Read the full article ‘There’s the rub: the painful history of the blister’ on Runner’s World.