Each foot is an intricate structure containing: 26 bones 33 joints 107 ligaments 19 muscles 2 arches 31 tendons 7,000 nerve endings 125,000 sweat glands The 52 bones in your feet make up about one quarter of all the bones in your body. Over 14,000 nerve endings in the feet provide sensitivity and early warning systems when something is wrong. The approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day. The muscles of the foot, along with a tough, sinewy tissue known as the plantar fascia, provide secondary support to the foot.

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. There are times when you're walking that the pressure on your feet exceeds your body weight.

When you're running the pressure on the feet can be three or four times your body weight. Fat pads in the foot help with weight-bearing and absorb impact during weight-bearing.

The foot is the foundation of most athletic movements. When there is pain, the body reacts by changing the way it moves or functions in an effort to reduce the pain.

NORMAL PRONATION
The outside part of the heel makes initial contact with the ground. The foot "rolls" inward about five percent, comes in complete contact with the ground, and can support your body weight without any problem. The rolling in of the foot optimally distributes the forces of impact. This movement is called "pronation," and it's critical to proper shock absorption.

At the end of the gait cycle, you push off evenly from the front of the foot.

OVER PRONATION   As with the "normal pronation" sequence, the outside of the heel makes the initial ground contact. However, the foot rolls inward more than the ideal five percent, which is called "overpronation." This means the foot and ankle have problems stabilizing the body, and shock isn't absorbed as efficiently. At the end of the gait cycle, the front of the foot pushes off the ground using mainly the big toe and second toe, which then must do all the work.

SUPINATION The outside of the heel makes initial contact with the ground. But the inward movement of the foot occurs at less than four percent (i.e., there is less rolling in than for those with normal or flat feet). Consequently, forces of impact are concentrated on a smaller area of the foot (the outside part), and are not distributed as efficiently. In the push-off phase, most of the work is done by the smaller toes on the outside of the foot.

Shopping for shoes is best done in the afternoon. 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.

Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems. It's neglect, and a lack of awareness of proper care -- including ill-fitting shoes -- that bring on the problems.

Women have about four times as many foot problems as men; lifelong patterns of wearing high heels often are the reason.

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.

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.

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.