It’s easy to take our feet for granted. Feet are perhaps not the most glamorous part of our body, but they are real workhorses — If you stop to think about it, it’s hard to imagine getting through the day without them.
The infographic below created by Dansko, How to Take Care of Your Feet, shares several data points that demonstrate just how anatomically complex and important your feet really are. Feet contain thousands of nerves and one-quarter of the bones in your entire body. The average person, the infographic tells us, walks 100,000 miles over the course of his or her life.
Can your feet stand up to the challenge of all that mileage? There’s a lot going on in the human foot, and it makes sense to give them as much help as you can. Many people suffer from foot problems, and if you are one of them, you know just how hard it is to get through the day when your feet are letting you down. Somewhere along the line, most people experience some sort of foot issue, so even if your feet feel terrific, the infographic is still a must read.
The good news is that good foot care will prevent your feet from tripping you up. For instance, using the proper technique to trim your toenails — straight across and not too short — is one of the surest ways to avoid ingrown toenails, a condition that can be quite aggravating. feet, corns and calluses.
An important way to maintain healthy feet, as the infographic points out, is to wear the right kind of shoes. A good rule of thumb is, if your shoes are uncomfortable, you probably shouldn’t be wearing them. Shoes with strong arch support, good ventilation to keep your feet dry, and that are properly fitted will make walking and other movements as comfortable as possible. If you’re not sure about the quality of a pair of shoes you are thinking about buying, look for the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) Seal of Acceptance.
Along with the right shoes, it will pay off to wear socks that wick moisture, and also to use inserts for added support, especially if you are on your feet a great deal. Other ideas brought out in the infographic that we seldom think about include not wearing the same shoes every day, and also not sharing shoes with friends, relatives, teammates, or anyone else.
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