Foot Anatomy
The foot, often overlooked, is a crucial part of our body. Its health is paramount, as nothing hinders us as much as a sore or injured foot.
Our feet are responsible for transporting our entire body weight 8,000-10,000 steps per day.
Here are some remarkable facts!
- Most people have 26 bones in each foot, but some have more if they have “extra” or sesamoid bones.
- Fourteen of the 26 bones are found in the toes.
- The foot, with its 33 joints, is a marvel of adaptability. Because we walk on only two feet (rather than four), our feet adapt to the ground under them with each step, an awe-inspiring feat.
- The soles of our feet contain more sweat glands and nerve endings per square inch than any other body part.
- Gait pattern mal-alignment can lead to knee, hip, and back pain.
- The skin on your feet’s soles is thicker than anywhere else. This protection prevents many puncture wounds.
- When you walk normally, your whole foot is never flat on the ground. A normal gait starts with a heel strike, with weight on the outside of the foot. As we move forward, the weight shifts to the midline and the inside, ending with a push-off at the big toe.
With their remarkable resilience, our feet do a fantastic job of getting us where we need to go, protecting us from injury, and adapting to many surfaces and functions. For the most part, we can take them for granted.
