Fun Foot Facts. . . . and Food for Thought, Too

imageFeet and food don’t seem to go together well at all, but this post about feet may give you some serious and not-so-serious food for thought and some laughs to boot (pun intended). And, of course, I’ll be looking at a few of these facts from a reflexology “stand” point. (Yep, another pun intended).

This post is inspired by the book I am currently reading: Leonardo’s Foot — How 10 Toes, 52 Bones, and 66 Muscles Shaped the Human World by Carol Ann Rinzler (Amazon Affiliate link). Leave it to a reflexologist to consider this reading material. Carol looks at feet all through history (even prehistorically, but I’m not sure how we would really know about them back then, and I’m certainly not into the evolution theory view she presents in “kicking off” this volume). That said, though, I’ve learned a few fascinating facts about feet here, and googled a few more. So, here we go.

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. There are also 200 nerve endings and 250,000 sweat glands. (The two feet together contain 1/4 of the bones in the human body, and the hands another 1/4).

Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light into my path.” That is a pretty familiar Scripture, but are you aware that the people of that day actually wore lights on their feet when they went out at night? No? Neither did I. As a reflexologist it makes me wonder what foot problems might have developed from carrying a lantern around on the foot, and exactly how it may have looked.

The average dancer does 200 one leg landing jumps per class – These jumps can produce a force equivalent to 12 times the dancer’s body weight. (The foot sure does take a beating here!)

Fingernails and toenails are made of the same substance as birds’ beaks.

Fingernails grow four times faster than toenails.

You use 200 muscles to take a single step and 300 muscles to balance yourself when you are standing still.

Since fingers and toes are both digits, they should be interchangeable, right? Well, in toe-to-hand surgery, toes can be used to replace missing fingers. The method was first used on humans in 1975 and is now widely used. Not every finger can be replaced, but often the big toe can be used for a missing thumb.

Butterflies taste with their feet. Taste receptors on a butterfly’s feet help it find its host plant and locate food. A female butterfly lands on different plants, drumming the leaves with her feet to make the plant release its juices.

You may be aware that the military has long rejected flat footed people from serving. Recently it was discovered that those with high arches actually have more foot injuries. Hmmmmm…….

Your feet mirror your general health. Such conditions as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet. Foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.* (An excellent reason for taking extra special care of your feet. Make a plan to do do just that, and remember Reflexology is one great choice to include in that plan.)

*Reflexologists do not diagnose treat or prescribe for any medical condition. Please see your health care professional.

Sources:
WeirdFacts.com
Spavelous.com
MentalFloss.com
About.com
Leonardo’s Foot: How 10 Toes, 52 Bones, and 66 Muscles Shaped the Human World (Amazon Affiliate link)

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