Feet Facts

Often the subject that makes people turn away in disgust, feet are actually quite interesting parts of our anatomy. There are many fascinating facts concerning feet that most people are unaware of.

Basic Foot Anatomy

The foot is split into three main areas; the forefoot, the mid foot and the hind foot. Between them they contain over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons, 26 bones (14 of which are found in the toes alone) and around 33 joints, all combined to make a fairly complex structure.They also contain about a quarter of a million sweat glands, which explains why so many people have such problems managing foot odour.

Due to the nature of the activities that the foot is exposed to, the skin is normally thicker on the feet than anywhere else on the body.In most people, the entire sole of the foot cannot come into contact with a flat surface at any single given time.

Function of The Feet

Feet exist to enable us to walk, run, balance and generally hold our skeleton up.They can accommodate great changes in weight and will adjust their shape and structure depending on the task we are doing.

It is easier to remain mobile rather than standing on our feet all day, as muscular workload is greater when standing still and the pressure is not allowed to build-up in one single area.Due to the enormous pressure we put on our feet, they are susceptible to many aches, strains and complaints.

Common Ailments of The Foot

The feet are susceptible to sustaining damage from their immediate environment as well as developing problems of their own and suffering the symptoms of complaints from elsewhere in the body, such as back problems or metabolic disorders such as gout.

Hard skin, corns, calluses, in-growing toenails, athlete’s foot and foot odour are the most common complaints seen in the foot.These are all non-serious but can affect the quality of life of the sufferer. Most common ailments can be prevented or treated easily using home remedies, over the counter preparations or from changing hygiene and care practices and ensuring the correct sized shoe is worn.

General Foot Facts

On average, humans will take enough steps in their lifetime to walk around the globe 4 times.Each day the average person will take 10,000 steps, this is now the approved target for everyone to achieve to remain moderately active.When we run, the pressure exerted on our feet can exceed 4 times that of our body weight.

Feet change in shape and size during our lifetimes. It is not unusual for a person to have to buy a bigger size as they age as the structures within the foot relax and spread.When buying new shoes, it is advisable that they are purchased in the afternoon as this is when our feet are at their biggest, ensuring the most comfortable and appropriate size is purchased.

Although feet are not often seen as the most attractive part of our anatomy, they are incredibly important for movement and balance and should be given some degree of respect due to the amount of pressure and work they are subjected to in our lifetime.