Five Useful Facts About Your Feet and Ankles

We take so much about our health for granted…that is, until something isn’t working optimally. The more you know about your body, the better prepared you will be to recognize the signs of injury or illness, and to get help promptly. Here are five facts about your feet, ankles, and lower legs that Middlesex County podiatrist Jason Grossman, DPM wants you to know:

1.      Your feet and ankles contain 52 bones. This is 25% of the bones in your body.

2.      These bones come together in 33 joints, including a series of delicate aches that give humans the ability to stand, walk, and run upright, unique among all the creatures on Earth.

3.      The many bones in your feet are supported by more than 100 soft tissue structures, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments, along with miles of blood vessels and nerves.

4.      Your feet contain more sweat glands per square inch than any other part of your body, even your armpits or the palms of your hands. Many people excrete as much as 8 ounces of sweat daily through the quarter-million sweat glands in their feet. The good news is that treatment is available for excess sweating.

5.      Many whole-body illnesses first present as symptoms in the feet such as swelling or changes to color. Pay attention to such signs and report them to your foot doctor right away, as they can point to serious issues such as cardiovascular illness, thyroid disease, or diabetes.

Foot pain is not a normal, unavoidable part of life. If your feet or ankles hurt, or if you have another concern about their wellness, a visit with a board-certified podiatrist like Jason Grossman, DPM is the first step on the road to better health. Schedule a visit to the safe, sanitized Advanced Feet and Ankle Care offices in Old Bridge and Sayreville, NJ. Call our friendly staff at (732) 679-4330 or click here to get started today.