Curious facts about feet that you probably didn't know

The moment when you know you're about to start a new day is waking up, and your feet are touching the ground. There is no doubt about it, but we take it for granted, and behind the scenes, there are many curious facts about feet. To understand more about these magnificent structures, we'll show you 7 singular facts that you probably didn't know until now.

Let's get started!

Photo by Ariel Pilotto on Unsplash

1. Bones. The foot and the ankle create a mechanical structure consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Incredible, isn't it?

2. Shapes. The symmetry in the feet is zero. Usually, one foot is longer than the other, they have a different shape, and the metatarsal and heel area varies in width.

3. Fingernails and toenails. Toenails are twice as thick as fingernails, which explains why they have cared differently. In addition, the pace at which they grow is also different, with hands growing much faster. Do you know why? Well, because footwear slows down the nail's growth.

4. Foot problems. The most common foot problem is hyperkeratosis (calluses), accumulations of keratin in a specific foot area due to poor biomechanics.

5. Tickling. You probably already knew this one, but the feet are one of the ticklish parts of our body. Do you know why? Because they are the body parts with more nerve endings per square centimeter, and for that reason, the soles of the feet have a thicker layer of skin.

6. Sweat. Together, the two feet have more than 250,000 sweat glands and release approximately 0.25L of moisture per day. Remember that excess sweat can lead to a fungal infection, so ventilate your feet when you get home and dry them well after washing (even between the toes).

7. Women and men. Women are much more susceptible to foot pathologies than men, and it is often related to the type of shoes they wear (too small, too narrow, or high-heeled shoes). However, statistically, men are more vulnerable to toenail fungus because their toenails are thicker. Isn't that curious?

We at Imperial Feet know how essential feet are, and that's why we're on the mission to help you take care of them. Our diverse product line helps to solve the most uncomfortable situations in an effective way. We hope you have found those facts interesting, and we look forward to seeing you in our upcoming publications. Stay safe!

References:
Martinez, R. (n.d.). The foot in the evolution of the human being. Spain. 2017.