We all know how important our feet are to our day-to-day lives. They carry us around every day, moving our bodies from place to place. Even with all their importance, however, they are sometimes forgotten! That’s why we thought you might want to learn some fun foot facts that might even surprise you!

Feet are unique!

At a glance, our two feet might seem identical to each other, but they each have their own unique features. Toes on one foot are often longer than on the other, your feets’ width may vary, arches can be higher or lower, and heels narrower. About 60% of people have feet that differ in shape or size. Some people even need a different size shoe for each foot!

Powerful toes!

We use our toes for balance, weight bearing, and nearly every movement. If you didn’t have toes, your feet would hardly work. As you press down during a step, skip, jump, dance maneuver, or basically any other movement, your big toe alerts your brain that you’re balanced. If your big toe is impaired, it can throw your stability off in a big way and maybe even make it impossible to walk.

Feet keep on growing!

Your feet grow with extraordinary speed throughout your childhood. From birth to age 2, our feet double about every two months. They slow down a bit, but never stop growing until around 20 years old. They might stop growing, but they continue to develop and shift. In your 40s, your feet will likely flatten and elongate. Life changes, such as pregnancy or menopause, can also change the size and shape of your feet due to hormonal shifts.

Brain connection!

Each foot has nearly 200,000 nerve endings. Each nerve ending functions as a sensory receptor, transmitting info to your brain about movement, temperature, pressure, pain, or any other necessary foot intel. These signals allow you to move and balance without thinking consciously about it. Your entire nervous system assists with this function, but your feet are the most important organs in the system.

Lots of bones! 

A quarter of your bones in your body is in your feet! Despite their size relative to your body, they play a big role in acting as your body’s foundation. This important role that feet play is why when you develop a foot problem, it can ripple through your body and cause pain elsewhere.

Got ticklish feet? That’s a good sign!

All the nerve endings in your feet make them the most ticklish part of your body. Tickling can be annoying, irritating, prickly, exciting, or even pleasurable - it also means that everything is working properly! 

Did you learn something new about feet? 

Taking a little time each day to think about your feet can make a big difference in your foot health! If you have concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Foot and Ankle Specialists of Central Ohio! Our board-certified foot doctors can provide individualized, premier podiatric care to treat your heel pain, chronic foot issues, sports injuries, and toenail problems! 

Get in touch by calling (614) 339-2000 to schedule an appointment at any of our locations in the Central Ohio area today!