by Brad L. Hayman, DPM, Complete Foot & Ankle Care
Everyone should be able to walk without pain and improve their quality of life. Here’s what you should know:
- Nine out of 10 women wear shoes too small for their feet.
- The average adult takes between 4,000 and 6,000 steps a day.
- Heels that are 2½ inch or higher can increase the pressure on the forefoot by 75% leading to inflammatory pain and/or injury.
- The average woman walks 3 miles more per day than the average man.
- Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. High heels are partly to blame.
- Humans have approximately 8,000 nerves in our feet.
- About 6% of the U.S. population has foot injuries, bunions, flat feet or fallen arch complaints each year.
- Sixty million Americans, or 25% of the population, have “flat feet.”
- Feet are largest (swollen) at the end of the day.
- There are about 250,000 sweat glands in your feet combined.
- About 20% of the U.S. population have “high arches.”
- The average person walks about 100,000 miles in a lifetime.
- The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons.
- Plantar fasciitis affects about 10% of the U.S. population.
- 75% of Americans will experience foot problems at one time or another.
- Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It contributes to your general health by improving circulation and weight control.
- 25% of all your bones are in your feet. When these bones are out of alignment, so is the rest of your body.
- In America, the average shoe size has gone up two sizes over the past 40 years.
- Only a small percentage of the population are born with foot problems.
- Often it is heredity, diabetes/ neuropathy, vascular disease, neglect, ill-fitting shoes, overweight and/or injury that brings on many foot problems.In general terms, managing health issues with good general care, exercise, proper fitting shoes and professional foot care can help women (and men) lead a better quality of life with less foot pain.