Sock survey could help diabetics

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Tests have shown which socks are most likely to damage the feet.
Blisters are a problem for athletes and they can be caused by wearing the wrong kind of socks. People with diabetes have the same risk and for them a blister or any kind of foot damage is potentially more serious. For impaired circulation and nerve damage are common among diabetics and mean that foot problems often worsen, possibly producing ulcers which may even require amputation.

A team at the University of Missouri-Columbia has been testing socks for their potential to cause friction to the skin which increases the risk of blisters. They looked at 10 popular brands of athletic socks using a device in which a stepper motor tilts a Plexiglas form holding the sock material against a platform. The device can measure the point at which the material begins to slip, a measure of friction produced.

The higher the friction, the more likely a blister is to occur. The tests were done in a humidity chamber to simulate the sweating that occurs inside a sock when it is on a foot. The researchers learned that 100 per cent cotton socks were the worst for blister producing potential, while nylon-containing socks fared much better. Expensive socks were no better than cheaper ones. The findings should help sock manufacturers make better products and diabetics in choosing their footware with health in mind.

Source
University of Missouri-Columbia 21st February 2006

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