Fun Foot Trivia

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At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we’re naturally huge fans of feet! We often find, however, that patients pretty much take these amazing structures for granted. Below are some fascinating and fun facts about feet and footwear.

The Not So Average Foot

  • ·There are 250,000 sweat glands in your feet, which produce up to ½ pint of sweat daily.

  • Nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body are found in your feet—26 bones apiece.

  • Your feet contain more sensory nerves per square centimeter than anywhere else on your body—nearly 8,000 nerves in all.

  • Your feet also contain 33 joints, 19 muscles and tendons, and 107 ligaments.

  • Your feet are at their largest at the end of the day.

  • Most people have one foot that is larger than the other.

  • The average person walks approximately 115,000 miles over the course of a lifetime. That’s equal to circling the globe four times!

Footwear Facts

  • Wearing a heel with a height of 2 ½ inches increases the load on your forefoot by 75%.

  • The oldest existing shoe is 5,500 years old and was found in an Armenian cave.

  • The most expensive shoes ever were Dorothy’s from the Wizard of Oz, which sold for $660,000.

  • The first sneaker was created by the U.S. Rubber Company.

  • The only shoe museum in North America is found in Toronto, Canada. It features shoes from over the course of 4,500 years.

  • It wasn’t until the 1700s in Europe that women’s shoes were different from men’s shoes.

  • It’s estimated that 9 out of 10 people are wearing shoes that are too small for them.

Healthy Feet

  • About 25% of the U.S. population has flat feet.

  • The average foot has increased two shoe sizes since the 1970s. The reason? Feet are getting larger to support the increased pounds people are packing on.

  • Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of disability in America.

  • Your feet are an early warning system for the rest of your body. Many conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and nerve and circulatory problems may first show signs in your feet.

And here’s one more statistic: 75% of all Americans will have foot problems at some point in their lives. When that happens, make an appointment at our Spring Hill (352 683-5799) or Hudson (727-868-2128) office. Our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales will evaluate your foot discomfort and prescribe the correct treatment.

foot health, Foot FactsPasco-Hernando Foot & Ankleosteoarthritis, diabetes, nerve damage