“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art” – Leonardo da Vinci. 

Your feet – some people take this important body part for granted.  We have some fun foot facts that you will find interesting and why your foot health is so important.

Some known facts about your feet:

25% of your body’s bones are in your feet – yes, it’s true.  Your feet has 26 bones each – for a total of 52 bones.  A human foot and ankle is a strong mechanical structure with 33 joints, 19 muscles, 10 tendons and 107 ligaments.  The Achilles Tendon is also the strongest tendon in the body. 

Your feet contain more sweat glands and sensory nerve endings than any part of your body – both feet have approximately 250,000 sweat glands and can excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day.  Your feet also may be the ticklish part of your body because there are 8,000 nerves in our feet.

Is your second toe larger than your big toe – you might have Morton’s Toe – this affects about 20-30% of the world’s population.

When you’re born your feet are underdeveloped – your feet take time for your arches to form.  Also, the bones in your feet don’t finish hardening until you reach 21 years old.

Your feet are natural shock absorbers – According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day.  During an average day of walking, the total forces on your feet can total hundreds of tons and is equivalent to a fully loaded cement truck.  Each foot takes 1.5 times your body weight while you walk. 

75% of Americans will experience foot problems at one time in their lives – this is true, and women are 4 times as likely to foot problems than men and partly due to women wearing high heels.  Additionally, 90% of women buy and wear shoes that are too small for their feet.  Just a reminder – the best time to buy shoes is at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest. 

Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain) affects more than 2,000,000 people a year – This is about 10% of the US population.  The second most common foot and ankle injuries - ankle sprains and strains account for 60% of foot and ankle injuries for people age 17 years and older.  Also, about 5% of the population has corns, calluses and ingrown toenails each year.

We hope you enjoyed and learned more about your feet and why it’s important to keep them healthy. And remember, if you or someone you know has any type of foot problems, consider making an appointment with Dr. Margaret Withrow or Dr. Gary N. Friedlander at Roadrunner Foot and Ankle in Peoria, Arizona.  We want to make sure your feet are healthy.