The ankle and the foot: small, yet mighty. We don’t think about our feet all the time, but understanding how they work for us can give us a better appreciation of how big a role it plays in our daily movements.
Let us learn some fun facts about the foot and ankle!
1. Each foot is made up of…
26 Bones,
30 Joints, and…
More than 100 Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments!
The tendons attach muscles to the bones, while ligaments hold the bones together. The bones provide structure and shape to the ankle and foot, while the muscles, tendons and ligaments stabilize this structure.
Together, the bones, muscles, and joints, provide the feet with balance, support, and mobility.
2. The feet can produce almost ½ a pint of sweat a day!
That’s almost the volume of ONE entire can of soft drink! 😲
The feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body. These glands release sweat to help to cool your body by regulating its temperature and keeping your skin moist.
3. All children are typically born with flat feet.
This is because as the child gets older, their muscles, bones, and tendons grow and develop. Subsequently, the arches of the feet start to form. Flat feet in children are natural and should not be of concern unless they are feeling pain or stiffness in their feet. Their arches should form when they are about 6 years old!
4. The average person walks 75,000 miles in his/her lifetime.
A study conducted across 2,000 adults by Ordnance Survey showed that each adult typically walks 6,839 steps a day, which adds up to 2,496,235 steps a year. In an average lifetime, that is about 75,000 miles, which is the equivalent of walking 3 times around the planet Earth!
5. Ankles are natural shock absorbers.
The plantar fascia stretches out as we move.
Be it walking or running, when the heel makes contact with the ground, the calcaneus (also known as the heel bone) and the fatty tissue underneath it absorbs the shock from initial contact. As we move forwards, the foot rolls inward, and the band of soft tissues at the bottom, called plantar fascia stretches out, further absorbing the impact of our body weight on our legs.
Gif of the Achilles Tendon by EOrthopodTV via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROd1Acma64o
As the body continues to move forward in the gait cycle, the weight now moves to the ball of the foot. We get leverage from the first or second toe joint and push off, while the Achilles tendon brings the heel up (see Gif).
6. When walking, each foot takes up 1.5 times the body weight.
When each foot strikes the ground, it carries 1.5 times your body weight. The ankle joint needs to be stable in order to bear the weight of the body when we walk. The leg and foot muscles work together to stabilize oneself so you don’t fall or lose balance while walking/standing.
7. When running, the feet takes 2.5 to 3 times the body weight.
With every step taken when running, more weight and pressure is placed on our ankles. Essentially, small ‘jumps’ are taken with each leg and when the foot lands on the ground, the ankle is subjected to forces equivalent to 2.5 to 3 times of our body weight. At this higher intensity, the muscles have to generate more forces for shock absorption.
8. The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon.
It is the strongest and thickest tendon in the body! The Achilles tendon is a sturdy fibrous cord that joins the calf muscles to the back of the heel. In a non-weight bearing position, it points the feet down. In a weight bearing position, it raises us up on our toes in standing, and lifts the heel off in walking and running.
9. Ankle sprains are the most common form of ankle injuries at all ages!
Gif of Ankle Sprain by abouttheback via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0h88wcQJfA
An ankle sprain occurs when the foot twists, rolls, or turns beyond its normal motions. This is when the ligaments that support the ankle overstretch and/or tear. One of the simplest risk factors could be walking or running on uneven surfaces.
Keep an eye out for a future article where we go more in-depth into ankle sprains!
Have you enjoyed these fun facts? You might not have noticed how hard your feet work for you! However, now that you do, please make sure to take really good care of them!
References:
[1] Anatomy of the foot. Arthritis Foundation. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/anatomy-of-the-foot
[2] LaFee, S. (2017, February 24). Shoeless Glow. UC San Diego Health. [online] Available at:
https://health.ucsd.edu/news/features/pages/2017-02-24-listicle-feet-facts.aspx
[3] Kaliyaperumal, K. (2021, March 18). My Child has Flat Feet. What can I Do? Mount Elizabeth Hospital Health Plus. [online] Available at: https://www.mountelizabeth.com.sg/healthplus/article/flat-feet-common-children
[4] Hughes, A. (2020, September 24). Step count of an average adult’s lifetime equates to travelling the world three times, new research shows. Independent. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/step-count-adult-lifetime-round-world-three-times-b573751.html
[5] Special section: Feet: How your feet work – and three steps for keeping them healthy. (2009). Harvard Health Publishing. [online] Available at:
[6] How do our feet work? (2021). InformedHealth. [online] Available at: https://www.informedhealth.org/how-do-our-feet-work.html
[7] Rodgers, M. M. (1995). Dynamic Foot Biomechanics. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 21(6), 306–316. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1995.21.6.306
[8] O’Brien M. (2005). The anatomy of the Achilles tendon. Foot and ankle clinics, 10(2), 225–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcl.2005.01.011
[9] Foot & Ankle. UCONN Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. (n.d.). [online] Available at: https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/conditions-and-treatments/where-does-it-hurt/foot-and-ankle/sprained-ankle/