Feet have played an important part in mankind’s history.

We have exerted extra pressure on both our feet and our backs since we, as a species, started to walk on two limbs instead of four.  

The fact that we move in a way in which we really were not designed to is something we all think nothing about on a day to day basis. After all, as I said, humans were not originally designed to be mobile on two limbs. When you think about it you realise just how much pressure we put through our feet.

Feet are complex and the skin on the foot is normally about four times thicker than elsewhere. This helps deal with pressure and protects the 26 bones situated there (that’s 25% of the bones in our bodies) as well as the 33 joints in/between those bones. We also have 100 muscles and tendons in our feet – so that is why sprained ankles and damaged tendons in feet are so common.

Having a thicker layer of skin on our feet actually helps waterproof them as well. However problems do occur when this layer becomes too hard and can lead to pain and cracking and then infection. Foot hygiene is very important in terms of our general health so looking after one’s feet helps you look after yourself. .

We often don’t realise how important our feet are to us and how a minor problem can cause a major incapacity in our life. It is only when things go wrong that we realise how important our feet our and that we should take care of them.

Removing hard skin is one of the simplest things we can do, and one way of doing this is of course with the good old foot files, as well as moisturising them and occasionally remembering to put them up for a few minutes in the day.