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The incrediable human foot...
We all begin life crawling, but it isn't long before we're making use of the amazing feet we're given.
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Initial Foot Development
New parents are often very concerned about the health of their children early in life. Attention is usually focused on their inquisitive eyes, grasping hands, and developing teeth. But what attention is paid to their still-developing feet? Often far too little, especially considering these are the appendages that will carry the weight of their body through a lifetime.
Only a small percentage of the world's population is actually born with foot problems. Rather, foot problems often arise later in life do to neglect and a lack of proper care and development earlier in life. During your child's first year, their feet will be incredibly soft and pliable. As such, any abnormal, repetitive pressures can easily cause the foot to deform. This is why foot specialists consider the first year to be the most important in the development of the feet.
The Ideal Conditions |
 Going barefoot is not only enjoyable, it's actually very healthy for the initial development of young feet. Studies show that walking barefoot early in life actually helps feet form properly and aids in musculature growth. By allowing the toes freedom to perform their natural "grasping" actions, the feet naturally develop strength and coordination.
Of course, going barefoot is isn't always practical. When walking outside or on rough surfaces, babies' feet need to be covered. Their soft, tender skin needs protection from the dangers of infection through accidental cuts and abrasion. This is when proper footwear becomes very important.
Proper Footwear
When choosing footwear to protect young developing feet, experts agree you should look for the following qualities:
Lightweight  | The shoes should not be heavy or impede the child's movement in any way. | | Flexible/Soft | The shoes should not restrict important toe and foot mobility, nor should they bind the growing feet in any way. | | Breathable | Constructed of breathable natural materials, such as leather, to promote healthy conditions around the feet. | | Flat | The shoes should not have any arch support. They should simulate barefoot conditions. |
By following these simple guidelines, and measuring for a proper fit, your child's feet will be off to a healthy start. Of course it's no surprise that Pedoodles were designed to meet all these criteria. What is surprising is how great they look at the same time. 
Fun Foot Facts
The foot is a complex and amazing part of the human body. With 26 bones in each foot, your feet account for over 1/4 of the bones in your body. No less then 19 muscles and 107 ligaments are used to control the movement of each foot -- and quite a job they have. The average person takes 8,000-10,000 steps a day with their feet, which adds up to roughly 115,000 miles over a lifetime. That's enough walking to circle the earth four times!
 To cope with all this activity there are over 250,000 sweat glands in your feet and these glands can excrete as much as a half-pint of moisture a day. Your feet are also able to handle tremendous pressures. When walking, you place about 2-3 times your body weight in pressure on your feet. When running, this pressure can increase to nearly 7 times your body weight.
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| This article was published on Tuesday 17 July, 2007. |
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