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Did you know that in an average day, you'll take anywhere from 8,000
to 10,000 steps. Here are some little known yet very interesting foot
facts, courtesy of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
- 3 out of 4 Americans experience serious foot problems in
their
lifetime.
- The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.
- 1/4 of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet. When
these bones are out of alignment, so is the rest of the body.
- Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems.
- It's neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care, including poorly
fitting shoes, that bring on problems.
- Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. High heels
are partly to blame.
- Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes
to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight
control and promoting all-around well being.
- Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis,
diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms
in the feet, so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious
medical problems.
- For about 7 million Americans, arthritis is the number one cause
of disability. It limits everyday dressing, climbing stairs, getting
in and out of bed or walking.
- About 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of
diabetic nerve damage, which in severe forms can lead to lower limb
amputations. Approximately 56,000 people a year lose their foot or
leg to diabetes.
- There are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. Sweat glands in
the feet excrete as much as a half-pint of moisture a day.
- Walking barefoot can cause plantar warts. The virus enters through
a cut.
- The two feet may be different sizes. Buy shoes for the larger one.
- About 5% of Americans have toenail problems in a given year.
- The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which adds
up to about 115,000 miles over a lifetime.
- There are currently more websites on the Internet having to do with
foot fetishes than with foot health.
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