Taping up toes to run

wit40iwtwan

hi all

I have so far lost 3 toenails since October and have another one about to drop off. This tends to happen when I do a half marathon and while most people would quit I really do enjoy the running. I have proper shoes and all that stuff but I am also a Raynauds sufferer which essentially is poor circulation which reacts badly to cold. I do not take any medication for this as I would rather try to improve my circulation with diet and fitness.

SO, short story is I have just returned from the doctor to make sure my toenails are not infected and he has suggested that I tape up my toes to try and reduce any trauma.

I was wondering if there are any runners out there that do this and what you would suggest. At the moment I have not been doing any training but I have joined the gym to get back to regular running while it is dark outside. The toes I need to tape are the second and third toes on each foot. I have bought some micropore which is less sticky but this I have done as I still have 2 toes which have no nails and are a bit painful at present.

Any suggestions around how to tape up the toes and the like would be greatly appreciated.

I have a 10KM to train for in May and a half marathon in October.

muddyl

I use to run a lot competitively and tried a few things but taping them never seemed to work. It's the impact and friction that do the damage. Tape may reduce friction a little but the impact will always remain.
My wife has reynaulds *sp too, and taping didn't work for her, she changed excessise's instead.

jenhug

hubby got fitted for a pair of running shoes in the sweat shop, and they said losing toenails was a sign that your footware was incorrect? I have no idea if this is true but it might be worth going for an assessment with a shop like this that offers a fitting service? it took about half an hour for hubbys assessment, with no pressure to buy.

jenniewb

I'd strongly suggest not taping up your toes!

I run, I know that when I run (and presumably when others run) my feet swell and that this is natural. Its even advised in proper running stores that you get a half size bigger in your trainers to deal with this or risk black toenails which is due to blood blisters forming under your toe nails and that occurs due to friction from ill fitting trainers.

I had a black toenail last year, I knew this was because my trainers were too small. I was stupid enough to think I'd fix the problem myself and I wrapped my toe and the toenail up in a protective plaster. What I hadn't accounted for was the very small angle at which I had subsequently raised the toe.
It took about 2 days and I got calf pain- this was because the muscles which raise the toe were pulled out or sorts and caused those calf muscles extra strain and they were unable to work properly. I didn't know what I know now and had tried to outwit the problem and had failed big time. Stupid!!

What is so easy to forget -or not even realise is that we do use our toes when running- in days before trainers began we'd grip the floor as we landed and kicked off, they are there to help balance and then spring off. Your toes need to be able to work properly and by bandaging them up in any way you mess with this and risk causing yourself all sorts of problems.

I am not an expert on Raynolds, I'd say get some professional advice on how you could deal with this- even from a sports based physio but it just feels like not the right thing to do to wrap them before running as this if anything would limit the circulation further.

adelight

I've taped my little toes in the past because I have a erm crazy toe that shifts around and gets stuck but I have never taped my toes to protect them and tbh don't think it would do you much good. Have you been to a specialist shop with a chiropodists around?

Gazing_On_Sunsets

Have you had your gait analysed when you went for your shoes? I found a running shop that did it for free here, and bought some new running shoes last week. I was surprised to end up with size 6.5, especially as I take 5.5 to 6 in regular shoes. It's counter-intuitive perhaps, you might be thinking "I need a snug fit, hence taping them up" but maybe try going the other way with it. Even, look at minimal shoes.