10 Fun Foot Facts

We think feet and ankles are pretty awesome here at Connecticut Foot Care Centers, and we'd like to share with you a few fun facts about the appendages that get you where you need to go!

1. Seventy-five percent of Americans will experience foot and ankle health problems of varying degrees of severity at one time or another in their lives.
2. The foot is an intricate structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons that hold the structure together and allow it to move in a variety of ways. 
3. The 52 bones in your feet make up 1/4 of all the bones in your body. Just another reason to take good care of your feet!
4. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) says the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. Those cover several miles, and they all add up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime- more than 4 times around the circumference of the world!
5. Shopping for shoes is best done in the afternoon, says the APMA. Your feet tend to swell during the day and it's best to buy shoes to fit them then. Have your feet measured every time you purchase shoes, and do it while you're standing. When you try on the shoes, try them on both feet; many people have one foot that is larger than the other, and it's best to fit the larger one. 
6. Your feet mirror your general health. Such conditions 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. 
7. The podiatric physician (doctor of podiatric medicine, or DPM) is the health care professional trained in the care of your feet and ankles. He or she receives conventional medical training, plus special training on the foot, ankle, and lower leg. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require they pass rigorous state board examinations before they are licensed, and most require continuing education programs for regular license renewal. 
8. About 19 percent of the US population has an average of 1.4 foot problems a year. 
9. About 5 percent of the US population has foot infections, including Athlete's Foot, other fungal infections, and warts each year. 
10. About 5 percent of the US population has ingrown toenails or other toenail problems each year. 

Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
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