There are 26 bones and 40 joints in each of our feet.
With every step we take, the force through our feet is 1 to 2 times our body weight. When we run it's 3 to 4 times our body weight.
Baby's feet have no arch and fatty padding fills this area initially. But children usually develop arches in their feet between 3 and 10 years old, although not everyone does. This is why their socks, baby grow suits and shoes need to have plenty of room to make sure they don't squash and distort the soft structures in their feet.
Some of the bacteria found on feet which make them smell ' cheesy' are actually used in the production of some cheeses.
Very thick and distorted nails, often on the big toe, are known as 'Ram's horn' nails. They tend to grow to one side because damage to the nail forming cells causes a difference in the rate of growth between the two sides. These nails used to be called 'Ostlers' nails' after the men who used to look after horses at coaching inns. A hazard of their job was having their feet stood on by horses - causing damage to their big toenails.
Feet sweat up to an eggcupful of fluid a day.
Although footwear probably contributes to the formation of bunions at the base of the big toe, it is not the only cause - races that do not wear shoes still develop bunions, although not as commonly as those that wear shoes.
The skin on the soles of the foot is thicker and drier (fewer oil glands) than anywhere else on the body. This is why you should use a special foot cream, instead of a body lotion or ordinary moisturiser, on your feet. A good foot cream will contain at least 10% of an ingedient called urea which is good at softening hard skin.
