Separate Foot Facts from Fiction

Photo credit: 123RF / Vadim Guzhva

Until they start hurting, have you ever really contemplated how hard your feet work? During a normal day, the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps. Over a lifetime, that’s about four trips around the world. When you think about it, your feet are the unsung heroes of your body. Because without them, you wouldn’t get very far. So how much do you really know about your feet? Let’s cue the game show music and put your knowledge to the test as you try to determine the foot facts from the fiction.

Foot Facts Test

Read each question and determine if it is a foot fact (true) or a fiction (false). Try not to cheat and read the answers below before you answer the question.

1. Your foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments?
2. Your feet contain one third of the bones in your body.
3. Your foot only has one arch.
4. Your feet are often different sizes.
5. Your toenails grow at the same rate as your fingernails.
6. During an average day, the total forces exerted on your feet when walking can total hundreds of tons or the equivalent to an average of a fully loaded cement truck.
7. Pronation describes the movement during the gait cycle when you push off with your toes, so you can move forward.
8. It doesn’t really matter what kind of shoes you wear.
9. You should have your feet professionally measured at least once a year.
10. Over-the-counter arch supports are the same as custom foot orthotics.

Foot Facts Test Answers

1. 

   Photo credit: 123RF / Denis Barbulat

   Fact. Now, let’s see how well you know your facts from fiction when it comes to your feet. Your foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. While that may seem like a lot of anatomy packed into a little package, your feet have to support the weight of your entire body.

2. Fiction. Your feet only contain one quarter of your body’s bones. But when your bones are out of alignment, so is the rest of your body.
3. Fiction. Your feet actually have three arches. The medial longitudinal arch runs along the inside of your foot from the ball of your foot to the heel. This arch is the largest and the one most people recognize. The lateral longitudinal arch runs along the outside of your foot from the ball of your foot to the heel – parallel to the medial longitudinal arch. The trans-metatarsal arch runs across the midfoot from the outside to the inside, behind the five metatarsophalangeal joints (the toe joints that connect the toes to the foot) in the ball of your foot.
4. Fact. It’s rare that your two feet are exactly the same. One foot is often larger than the other.
5. Fiction. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your toenails grow more slowly – about 1 mm per month – compared to your fingernails. It can take 5 to 6 months to grow an entirely new toenail.
6. Fact. When you walk, the force exerted on your feet can be up to 1.5 times your body weight. Over an average day of walking, those total forces on your feet can be hundreds of tons.
7. Fiction. The movement during the gait cycle when you push off with your toes, so you can move forward, is known as supination. Pronation is the movement when your heel hits the ground and the arch of your foot collapses slightly.
8. Fiction. You should wear properly fitted shoes that provide your feet with support. Most shoe manufacturers design shoes for fashion – not function. While high fashion shoes are fine for special occasions, they’re not recommended for everyday use. For optimum foot health, buy shoes that support your feet and fit well.
9. Fact. As we age, our feet change as our body changes. For example, weight gain can increase the size of your feet. Have your feet measured by a professional – not a sales person, who’s more interested in selling you shoes – at least once a year.
10. Fiction. Over-the-counter (OTC) arch supports are NOT the same as custom foot orthotics. Custom orthotics are made specifically to fit the specifications of your feet. OTC arch supports are not custom made in any way. They are mass produced devices in which the left and right arch supports are mirror-matched images. If you want customized support, consider getting ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics. These custom orthotics are biomechanically designed to properly support all these arches of your feet by redistributing your body’s weight evenly over both feet and bringing your whole body into proper alignment. Also, ezWalker® Custom Orthotics help reduce the shock forces exerted on your feet, providing you with pain relief and comfort for your entire body.

Now that you have your foot facts straight from the fiction, you’re a little more knowledgeable about how your feet function – which we hope, means you’ll take better care of your feet.

How to Order WalkEZStore Custom Orthotics

For more information about WalkEZStore products, visit our website. Our custom orthotics are ultra thin and ¾ length, so they easily transfer from shoe to shoe – saving you money.

Click here to order your pair of ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics today.

Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®

Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.