FOOT FACTSby Dr. Mark H. Tompkins |
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 The
average person takes approximately 8-10,000 steps/day and will walk almost 115,000
miles in his/her lifetime. This is equivalent to about 4 ½ times around
the earth. |
 75%
of Americans will experience foot problems
at some time in their lives. Incidence varies with age. Over 50% of people over
the age of 50, and approximately 35% between the ages of 18-24. |
 About
19 percent of the US
population has an average of 1.4 foot problems each year. This is based on statistics from
the American Podiatric Medical Association |
 Women
are four times more likely to experience foot problems
than men. |
 During
an average day of walking, the total forces on your feet can total hundreds of
tons. Equivalent to the average weight of a cement truck fully loaded!! |
 Each foot contains 26 bones (x 2 feet = 52 bones)…almost ¼ of
the total bones in your body. |
 Combined….there
is over 60 joints, 200 ligaments, and 35 muscles in your feet. |
 The
soles of your feet contain more sweat glands and sensitive nerve-endings per
square centimeter than any other part of your body. |
 The
skin on bottom (plantar surface) of your feet is thicker than it is anywhere
else on your body. It is the first defense against repetitive foot problems. |
 Standing
in one spot is far more tiring than walking. The reason for this is that demands
are being made on the same few muscles for a length of time. |
 There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of
feet. Sweat glands in the feet excrete as much as a half-pint of moisture a day.
Excess moisture can cause (and exacerbate) many skin-related problems such as
athletes foot, fungal nails, eczematous conditions, and many dermatoses. |
 60-70%
of people with Diabetes will develop some form
of nerve and/or circulation-related foot problems
within their life time. |
 Ingrown nails and heel
pain are the most common foot problems
(re)searched through the internet. Which mirrors the most common problems treated
in a foot specialist’s office? |