The Foot's Steps Through Time.

University Degree Subjects allied to Medicine

The Foot’s Steps Through Time

The body is an amazing machine. The hundreds of systems inside of us are constantly working together to manage the many things that we as humans do. However with out the ability to walk life would be very different, and feet are an immense help in doing this.

The foot, along with the overall human body has changed a great deal through evolution to become what it is today. Millions of years ago, long before humans were around there were what many people believe to be our ancestors: Primates. These creatures essentially known as monkeys, began as just that and through millions of years are believed to have evolved into Autralopitecus afarensis whom over about 3 million years, evolved into human beings as we know them today.

Research has shown that the bone structure of the Autralopithecus afarensis is very similar to that of humans today. “Some of the bones in the feet are slightly curved, and look like the bones you would expect to see in a human ancestral who climbed trees.” Through the years, the primate’s body slowly evolved into human form in order to meet it’s needs as the environment changed. Because of these changes in the body structure and of the environment there became new demands on the foot. Now that less time was spent climbing and instead walking face-paced on the ground became more prevalent the anatomy of the foot was compelled to change. Early hominids began walking with the help of their hands as well and therefore the weight is distributed along the side of the foot and into the middle row of toes. “In a human, body weight is transmitted along the outside of the foot, then internally across the ball of the foot, and finally push-off is made by the big toe. This is a much more efficient arrangement for striding”.

During these 3 million years, the hominids evolved becoming more like us. The weight put on the feet became more spread out, and soon became capable of supporting the entire body’s weight. Over this time long time period, the feet’s muscular and bone structure evolved in a way which made it possible to hold a upright stance like we have today.

Long after homosapians were fully evolved, many different cultures were formed. Each one having their own beliefs and customs. Around the time of Christ, when shoes were expensive and roads were dusty, feetwashing was practiced regularly. At the time “this daily ritual was considered a mark of respect and esteem for fellow people.” According to Christian beliefs, Jesus washed his disciple’s feet before his own death. It is believed that he did this to demonstrate one should humble themselves and serve others. It was also “a spiritual lesson on cleansing from sin.”

Another custom regarding feet was ...

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Another custom regarding feet was practiced for approximately One Thousand years beginning around the 800s. This was the painful tradition of foot binding. In China, woman bound their daughter’s feet at the age of four to seven. Foot binding is an attempt to stop the growth of the feet by wrapping a bandage tightly around each foot. This bandage was tightened each day. This forced the big toe and the heel closer together and the four small toes under the sole of the foot. By doing this, the feet become narrower and shorter. A Chinese girl undergoes this painful process for two years, being fitted into smaller shoes about every two weeks. This in hope of achieving the model foot length of only three to four inches.

“Corns would develop on the toes that were bent under…With the lack of circulation flesh would fall off and sometimes the toes would ooze puss.” The bandages needed to be removed frequently to wipe off the blood and puss from the feet. This process caused constant excruciating pain, and made it very difficult to walk. A Chinese saying says, “Every pair of small feet costs a bath (kang) of tears”. Nevertheless, young girls from lower-class families had their feet bound and were still forced to carry out hard work in the house or on the farm, for the families could not afford the loss of labor.

It is not entirely know why the custom began, however the several reasons why individuals continued binding their daughters is well known. Firstly, it showed women their place in society. Foot binding prevented the wives from running away from beatings, and helped stress the superior status of men.

Also, since they could not journey far on their own, they became more dependent on others and were more controllable.

Another incentive women had for placing their daughters under so much pain was marriage. A woman without bound feet had almost no chance in being married. It was common for men to call off a wedding simply because he discovered she does not have bound feet. It was considered very charming for a woman to walk with all her weight on her heels and therefore became a symbol of chastity. The majority of men were obsessed with the small feet of a woman, and thus bound feet became a major erotic zone. “Poetry and writings from this period express a great infatuation even an obsession bordering on perversion, for small feet.”

In 1895, a society was formed in Shanghai in attempt to put an end to foot binding. Their main argument was that because of the pain a women goes when her feet are bound, her education is jeopardized. The society spread to other major cities and across the country. Eventually, with the revolution lead by Doctor Sun Yat-Sen in 1911, foot binding was made illegal. Approximately 1 billion women had their feet bound, and the effects lasted with them throughout their lifetime. These women became were more likely to fall, less able to squat, and were at greater risk of suffering hip of spine fractures. It can also be safely assumed that a number of these women suffered strong emotional trauma after enduring years of constant excruciating pain.

Fortunately, this practice is over. However even today there are traditions all over the world, which may not sound very enjoyable. On the other hand, there are also some beneficial customs which have been around for thousands of years and still continue in the modern world today.

An excellent example of this is a treatment called reflexology. Reflexology is believed to have begun in Ancient Egypt as and a form of pressure treatment. “The body’s nerves all have endings in the feet and hands, There is a reflex action back to a particular body part when the specific associated area on the foot or hand is stimulated."7

As opposed to Acupressure points, the points used in Reflexology follow the neurological pathways. Through this, when pressure is applied to the foot, the nerves are stimulated and the corresponding area will be sent a surge of energy. For example, if you message the sides of your big toes, the neck will be stimulated if enough force was applied. This practice “can relieve pain and tension, restore vitality, stimulate glands, and encourage the natural healing process.” Reflexology can be done safely at any age and works best when 10-15lbs of force is applied.

As you can see, some techniques that have been used for thousands of years are still viable. It is not only medical information which has been passed down over long periods of time. There are several myths, beliefs and customs that are carried out by different cultures now, just as they were in the past.

In Chinese mythology, there is a beautiful bird call the Phoenix. Each part of it’s body represents a different element or action. The Phoenix’s feet symbolize the earth.

A Hindu dance based on their religion also has a special reference to feet and their actions in the dance. The Hindu dance called the Tandava dance is composed of several different movements, each one symbolizing something different. When the left foot is raised, the dancer is demonstrating thankfulness of the blessings bestowed by Shiva Nataraja. “Shiva Nataraja is considered to be the god of dance in Hindu mythology”. The stomping of the foot, (another move later during the dance) signifies triumph over evil.

One practice that has changed over the years is foot care. People have begun to take into consideration the health and safety of their feet. Medical technologies have advanced greatly, and thus many new treatments for ill and injured feet have been created.

There are some basic things everyone should know when it comes time to care for your feet. Firstly, be sure to walk often. This gives your feet exercise and increases circulation. Wearing shoes that fit properly is also very important because otherwise your feet can easily develop bunions, corns, calluses and other problems. When purchasing shoes, try them on while standing up in the afternoon after you have been walking for a while. At this time your feet will have swelled, and it is best to be fitted for shoes when your feet are at their maximum size. Be sure they are comfortable, have thick soles and are made from a breathable material.
Bath your feet regularly, and it is important that your feet are completely dry before putting on socks in order to prevent the accumulation of bacteria. By doing this in conjunction with occasionally airing out your feet you can prevent odors from being produced. To prevent ingrown toenails(when nail grows into the skin) trim your toenails straight across instead of curved and “leave nail slightly longer than the tips of your toes.”

It is common for people with diabetes to develop foot problems more serious than a non-diabetic. This is because “It’s a nerve disease and diabetic people frequently have poor circulation in their feet. This can lead to changes in the foot shape and other foot problems.” The people who are at risk the most for any complications in foot injuries are those who have had diabetes the longest.

Despite the seriousness of foot problems in diabetics, everybody is subject to them. However, everyone can also take preventative measures to help ensure the health of their feet. Proper foot care is essential in maintaining a high state of well-being and comfort throughout life.