Friday Foot Fact

Week 16

It's Friday and I'm giving a tiny foot fact, like in baby feet tiny! Ever notice how baby feet are so chubby?
The foot of a child has an abundant layer of fat all around it so that the bones of the foot are well protected. This layer of fatty tissues will disappear in the first couple of year of the child's life while the foot develops.

Not only are a baby's foot chubby but usually the toes are pretty much the same length all the way through and the arch of the foot is not very visible, giving the look of a flat foot.

The growth of the foot varies greatly,  some will have a very rapid growth in the second and third year of life, another through the seventh and eight year to have a final growth spur in puberty. Our feet stop growing when we reach the age of 20 in general.

I hope you've enjoyed a the Friday foot fact, tiny but interesting. Last week fact was not published due to a computer melt down, very glad to be back at it today and have lots more to say about feet and aesthetics in general. Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday foot fact

Week 14

Friday foot facts is on Good Friday today and I'm keeping it short and sweet. It used to be very customary to wash your guests feet about some 2000 years ago. It usually was to refresh them from travelling in sandals, if you had sandals but most didn't have the luxury of having foot wear. I can just imagine how dirty feet could get in that day and age, in fact even our sandal adorned feet in the middle of an urban market will get dirty too.

Why I'm touching the subject of washing feet is because I have had some people tell me it's a bit degrading to bend down to someone else's feet, to which I usually reply that some important historical figures have washed the feet of many in humility. As the story goes: Jesus washed the feet of his apostles before the last supper.

I have been brought up in a spiritual home but even though I hardly practice my spirituality in church, I do have to say I feel I practice it every day in my work. I just feel blessed that many have trusted me with their aches and pains on a daily basis, grateful to the support others have given me in my practice.

Last but not least.....Good Friday and Happy Easter to you all.

Friday foot fact

Week 13

Did you know people that have high arches of the feet, also known as pes cavus, are more likely to have stress fractures and ankle sprains?

Because of the high arches of the feet, the feet themselfs are less flexible, more rigid and the heels will have callouses.

Actually, anyone that have high arches can take a look at their shoes and see the heel of the shoe is more used up on the same places where your callouses appear on the heel of your foot.

Go ahead, take a look at the soles of your shoes...now take a look at the soles of your feet. You should see where the wear and tear of the soles of your shoes, you'll have callouses on the same parts of the sole of your feet.

Please be aware to have proper footwear with built up arch support and consult a foot specialist that does orthotics. Your feet will be forever grateful!

This is Friday foot fact is short and sweet but I hope it inspires you to put your best foot forward.

Have a great weekend!

What's that smell???

Dear readers,

Do you have a pair of shoes that are just atrocious to take off because of the deadly vapors that are permeating a whole room? Either you have a teenager that his sweat glands are out of whack, a husband's construction boots that are deadly or even your favorite pair of sandals that can emit a smell that is comparable to a very pungent cheese.

What is that smell? Well to keep it simple, it's these little bacteria that have gas. A lot of them! I've had this problem a few years back and it was beyond bad foot odor, I think I could of put a small animal under 3 pounds out cold with the smell of them. Seriously! 

How I solved my stinky feet problem was pretty easy but as soon as I wore those pesky shoes, it came back in a vengeful force. You see the problem wasn't just my feet but those shoes in particular. So you really have to solve the source of where this problem is starting to really get rid of the smell. 

One of my favorite breathable sneakers

The first step is to take your shoes, slip them into a plastic resealable bag and put them in the freezer for a good 24 to 48 hours. By doing this, you are cutting off the bacteria from an thriving environment, warmth. If you have more than one pair of shoes causing you this problem, you will want to put them all in the freezer.

The second thing to do is a very cost effective solution too. White vinegar and lukewarm water in a 50-50 mixture. Meaning a cup of vinegar for a cup of water. Soaking your feet for 10 minutes for 10 consecutive days and making sure that the mixture is covering the whole soles of your feet. You really have to follow through with this treatment for it to be fully effective.

I have to say that wearing shoes made with synthetic materials are more prone to do this and wearing a shoe that is made with natural materials that are breathable is a better option. There is also more than one solution to this problem of smelly feet but I think this is one of the best and simplest ways to solve it. I hope this will help anyone that is having this problem without throwing out your favorite footwear.

Yours truly,

Nadine

Friday foot facts

Week 12

Did you know that your toes have no actual muscles?

In fact, neither do your fingers. All your phalanges, meaning the bones that shape your digits, meaning your toes and fingers are moving because of an intricate network of ligaments and tendons. The foot alone contains over 100 ligaments and 20 different muscles. Ligaments serve to bind the structure together, give strength and support the bone structure.

Grateful feet on the beach

Still, I'm always amazed at how intricate the human body is made but foremost the foot. After all, it's because of them we can carry our bodies everywhere. Walk, run, skip, jump, stand or dance, they do it all for us but we rarely pay attention to them. Maybe taking care of them will allow many of us to dance till we are 90 years old, well that's my wish to everyone.

Short but sweet was the intent of my Friday foot fact today, enjoy putting your feet up or your best foot forward this weekend, just be grateful you have them!