ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON FEET AND CHIROPODY CARE

1. Are foot problems widespread?

Seventy-five percent of people will experience foot health problems of varying degrees of severity at one time or another in their lives.

2. 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.

3. Are there a lot of bones in feet?

The 52 bones in your feet make up about one quarter of all the bones in your body.

4. 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 often are the culprit.

5. How far does the average person walk during a typical day and during their lifetime?

The American Podiatric Medical Association says the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. Those cover several miles, and they all add up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime -- more than four times the circumference of the globe.

6. How much pressure goes into your foot while you are walking?

There are times when you're walking that the pressure on your feet exceeds your body weight, and when you're running, it can be three or four times your weight.

7. What tips should I follow when shopping for shoes?

Shopping for shoes is best done in the afternoon, says the American Podiatric Medical Association. Your feet tend to swell a little during the day, and it's best to buy shoes to fit them then. Have your feet measured every time you purchase shoes, and do it while you're standing. When you try on shoes, try them on both feet; many people have one foot larger than the other, and it's best to fit the larger one.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.


11. Are all foot problems hereditary? Are you born with foot problems or do they develop later?

Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems. Lack of awareness of proper care -- including ill-fitting shoes -- that bring on the problems. A lifetime of wear and tear, plus neglect, accounts for the fact that the practices of most podiatrists are made up of older Americans.

12. What are corns and calluses?

Corns 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 as nature's way of protecting sensitive areas.

14. 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.

15. 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.