The Fantastic Foot Quick Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Your Feet?

Posted on: 20 October 2015

Your feet are remarkable. They carry your entire weight without complaint from the moment you learn to walk… or mostly without complaint anyway. They're complex pieces of equipment and you need to do your best to look after them to ensure that they don't start to complain too loudly during later life. But how much do you know about your feet? Take this short quiz and find out. The answers will also provide you with some solutions to a few general foot care issues.

1. How many sweat glands are in your feet?

a) Approximately 50,000

b) Approximately 150,000

c) Approximately 250,000

The correct answer is c. It's surprising, isn't it? It certainly explains why sometimes a person's feet can get so sweaty. Excessively sweaty feet are more of a social embarrassment than a medical problem, but if your sweaty feet are concerning you, there are a few things you can do. Start wearing socks that are made entirely (or at least mostly) from natural fibres. These fibres allow the skin to breathe, which draws the moisture away from your feet. This might mean that your shoes begin to smell more than they used to, so be sure to use an odour reducing insole.

2. What percentage of the population has one foot that is larger than the other?

a) 50%

b) 60%

c) 70%

The correct answer is b. And interestingly, the left foot is generally the larger of the two. If you experience pain in one foot and not the other, an incorrect shoe size might be to blame. This difference might not be picked up when your feet are measured for shoes in a store, but a podiatrist will be able to tell you if the difference warrants you buying two differently sized shoes. You might need to do this online as most retail outlets will not sell two shoes of a different size. A podiatrist will also be able to rule out any other factors that might be causing the discomfort.

3. Your feet change size (ever so slightly) during the course of the day. When are they at their largest?

a) In the morning

b) In the middle of the day

c) In the evening

The correct answer is c. This is due to a small build up of fluid in your feet that increases throughout the day. It's perfectly natural, and is essentially the effect of gravity. This difference is barely noticeable, but it means you should buy shoes later in the day to ensure the best fit possible.

Given the amount of work your feet do throughout the course of your life (or even the course of the day), it's important to have any problems examined as soon as possible. After all, happy feet make life much easier!

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