The human foot has approximately 7,200 nerve endings, 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 major muscles, 250,000 sweat glands and a vast network of blood vessels.
Reflexologists believe the feet mirror the body: toes relating to the head, ball of the foot relating to the chest area, arch of the foot relating to the spine and the heel relating to the pelvic/hip.
The 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet can excrete as much as half a pint of moisture a day.
Your feet "mirror" your general health. Dis-ease in the body can often show up on the feet first -so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious health problems.
The feet of a person weighing 130 pounds absorb 500 pounds of pressure with every step! A 150 pound person walking one mile exerts the equivalent of 63.5 tons or 127,000 pounds on each foot.
The average North American logs 75,000 miles on their feet by age 50.
The average person takes 10,000 steps in a day , adding up to 115,000 miles in a life time -that’s more than four times around the earth.
When walking, each time your heel lifts off the ground it forces the toes to carry one half of your body weight.
Despite the fact that so many people experience foot pain, only a fraction of people with foot pain seek medical treatment. The reason? Many people have the erroneous notion that their feet are supposed to hurt.
The first foot coverings were probably animal skins, which Stone Age peoples in northern Europe and Asia tied around their ankles in cold weather.
Cigarette smoking is the biggest cause of Peripheral Vascular Disease (disease of the arteries of the feet and legs) which often leads to pain on walking, ulceration, infection and in the most severe cases - gangrene and possible amputation.
Around 40 per cent of Australians will experience some form of foot problems in their lifetime.
Foot disorders in the elderly are extremely common and are the cause of much pain and disability, and consequent loss of mobility and independence.
Corns and callus are most commonly caused by improper foot function. This results in friction and pressure. Your body's natural defense is to build up a "wall" or "armour" of thick skin. Alleviating the improper foot function can reduce or eliminate the problem. Poorly fitting or worn out shoes can also cause corns and callus.
It's best to shop for shoes in the afternoon or late in the day. Your feet actually swell during the day from walking and activities, so a pair of shoes that felt comfortable in the morning might actually be too snug by day's end.
Women have about four times as many foot problems as men; lifelong patterns of wearing high heels often are the culprit
Sherlock Holmes was the master of discerning limps, gender, social standing and foot disorders - all from footprints!
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.
The record for the person with the biggest feet in the world is held by an American called Robert Wadlow. His feet were 47cm long and he took size 37 shoes!
American President Abraham Lincoln had size 14 feet.
Charlie Chaplin, Hollywood's silent comedian with the splay footed trademark walk, had his feet insured for $150,000 (£33,500) in the 1920's; a fortune at the time.
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 per year lose their foot or leg to diabetes.
Socrates knew how much feet could hurt. He once said, "When your feet hurt, you hurt all over."
When you walk, the forces borne by your feet are about one and one-half times your body weight. When you're running, it can be three or four times your weight. When you jump, forces can exceed eight times your body weight!