9 Strange and Interesting Foot Facts

It’s surprising how little we actually think about our feet. Especially since our feet are a pair of the most useful body parts that we have, and, as it turns out, they’re pretty amazing to boot! Don’t believe it? Check out these strange, interesting, and little-known facts about your feet that might surprise you:

1.       1/4 of all of the bones in the human body are in the feet. Each foot is made up of approximately 26 bones. The human foot also has 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments.

2.       The average pair of feet walk around 115,000 miles in a lifetime. That’s more than four times the distance it takes to circle the earth! To stay healthy, it’s recommended that a person takes 10,000 steps a day – which equates to almost 5 miles. Most people who live a sedentary lifestyle take fewer than 3,000 steps per day.

3.       The world’s largest feet are a US size 26. The average men’s size shoe is 10 1/2. The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest feet is currently held by Orlando Rodriguez Hernandez of Venezuela. His feet measure 1 foot, 3.79 inches on the right foot) and 1 foot, 3.59 inches on the left foot. It’s rare for both feet to be exactly the same size. One foot is usually larger than the other.

4.       Toenails grow faster during hot weather, pregnancy and teenage years.

5.       Almost half of all toenail problems are due to fungal infections. Fungal toenail infection tends to become more likely with age. Nearly 50% of people over the age of 60 will experience a fungal toenail infection. Another common cause of toenail problems is ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails are often caused by bad toenail trimming techniques or too-tight footwear.

6.       75% of Americans will experience foot problems at one time or another in their lives.

7.       Some medical conditions can show up first in the feet. For example, food-related symptoms of diabetes can include a foot infection or reduced circulation or numbness in the feet.

8.       A podiatrist, or foot doctor, specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of foot and ankle problems. In the US, podiatrists must study for a minimum of 4 years, complete a residency, and must be state licensed before they can legally practice and offer advice on all aspects of foot health.

9.       Despite this, the feet are often the most neglected part of the body.  Public surveys frequently reveal that they feet are the body part that people like the least.

To help keep your feet looking and feeling as amazing as they are, be sure to schedule regular visits to your podiatrist for check-ups. You should visit your foot doctor at least once a year, or more often if you have diabetes or an existing foot problem. If you haven’t had your feet checked in a while, contact us today to schedule your next appointment!