Foot fact

 

1.Are feet complicated?
The foot is an intricate structure containing 26 bones. Thirty-three joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, and tendons hold the structure together and allow it to move in a variety of ways.

2.Are there a lot of bones in feet?
The 52 bones in your feet make up about one quarter of all bones in your body.

3.Do more women have foot problems then men?
Women have about four times as many foot problems as men; lifelong patterns of wearing high heels aften are the culprit.

4.How much pressure goes into your foot while you are walking?
There are times when  walking that the pressure on your feet exceeds your body weight, and when  running, it can be three or four times your weight.

5.What tips should I follow when shopping for shoes?
Shopping for shoes is best done in the afternoon, Your feet tend to swell a little during the day,  best to buy shoes to fit them then. Have your feet measured every time you purchase shoes, and do it while re standing. When you try on shoes, try them on both feet; many people have one foot larger than the other, and best to fit the larger one.

6.How should toenails be trimmed?
Trim your toenails straight across with clippers specially designed for the purpose. Leave them slightly longer than the tips of your toes.

7.What exercise is safe for your feet and good for your overall health?
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.

8.Can serious medical problems first show up in the feet?
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.

9.Are all foot problems hereditary?
Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems.

10.What are corns and calluses?
Corn and calluses are caused by friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas when wearing shoes. If the first signs of soreness are ignored, corns and calluses rise up.

11.How much sweat do your feet produce each day?
There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and they excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day.

12.What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts are caused by a virus which may invade the sole of the foot through cuts and breaks in the skin. Walking barefoot on dirty pavements or littered ground can expose feet to this sometimes painful skin infection.

13.Are foot problems widespread?
About 19 percent of the INDIAN population has an average of 1.4 foot problems each year.

14.Do many people have ingrown toenails?
About 5 percent of the INDIAN  population has ingrown toenails or other toenail problems each year.

15.Are corn and calluses common?
About 5 percent of the  INDIAN  population has corns or calluses each year. Of the three major types of foot problems (infections, toenails, and corn and calluses), people are less likely to receive treatment for corns and calluses and more likely to continue to have corns and calluses as a problem without treatment.

16.Do podiatrists treat the largest percentage of the population that require foot health care services?
Podiatric physicians are the major providers of foot care services, providing 39 percent of all foot care (orthopedic physicians provide 13 percent of all foot care, all other physicians provide 37 percent of all foot care, and physical therapists and others provide 11 percent of all foot care).

17.Is it more expensive to be treated by a podiatrist?
Podiatric physicians are four times less likely to use costly inpatient services than other physicians.

18.How would you further describe the treatment and care provided by podiatrists?
Podiatric physicians provide treatment for 82 percent of corn and callus problems, 65 percent of toenail problems, 63 percent of bunion problems, 46 percent of flat feet or fallen arches problems and 43 percent of toe/joint deformities. Patients with foot problems visit podiatric physicians an average of 3.7 times a year, orthopedic physicians 3.4, osteopathic physicians 3.2, all other physicians 3.0 and physical therapists and others 7.1

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