Your Feet by the Numbers

It’s National Foot Health Awareness Month and we at Southern Maryland Foot & Anklethought it might be fun to help you get to know your feet a bit better with these statistics*:

• The average person will walk approximately 115,000 miles in a lifetime (that’s equal to more than 4 times around the globe!)

• Your foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments. A quarter of all the bones in your body are located in your feet.

• There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands contained in the feet.

• 75% of Americans will have foot problems at some point in their lives.

• It’s estimated that women experience foot problems 4 times as much as men and that 9 out of 10 women are wearing shoes that are too small.

• Over half of American women have bunions.

• About 25% of Americans have flat feet.

• To grow a completely new toenail takes 5-6 months.

• Pressure exerted on your feet when you are running is up to 4 times your body weight.

• Your feet can be the place where several major bodily illnesses first show symptoms. These include: diabetes, arthritis, circulatory and nerve disorders.

Let’s face it, if your feet aren’t healthy, chances are the rest of your body is going to suffer as well. You have the power to prevent many foot health problems. Wearing shoes that fit properly and checking your feet regularly for changes or abnormalities are two big steps you can take to increase podiatric health. If you experience pain or discomfort, make an appointment with our board certified foot and ankle surgeon, Larry Hotchkiss, DPM. Most foot disorders are more successfully treated in their earliest stages.

Want to know more about how to care for your feet? Contact our Clinton or Waldorf office. If you take care of your feet, they will enable you to live the active life you love for many years to come.

*Statistics from Foot.com