What Are Your Feet Telling You About Your Body?
Feet are often-overlooked structures which have a huge impact on the rest of your body.
If you’re dealing with pain in your knees, hips, or lower back, your feet may be playing a bigger role than you realise.
Fascinating Foot Facts
Did you know…
👣 The human foot has:
• 26 bones
• 33 joints
• 112 ligaments
It’s designed to be rigid enough for weight bearing but flexible enough to adjust to uneven surfaces. It also plays a key role in relaying information to the brain to support balance, muscle coordination, and stability.
And that’s just the beginning.
Here are a few more facts that might surprise you:
- 🦶 Toes are meant to spread out to better distribute load and absorb shock
- 🧠 Only humans have a separate brain mapping for the big toe
- 👶 We’re all born with flat feet, and our arches only develop as we begin to walk
- ⚠️ A misaligned big toe can throw off your knee stability and gait, leading to pain and imbalance
What Do Your Feet Look Like?
Take a look at your own feet. Are your toes spread naturally? Or are they tightly pressed together, overlapping, or forming a bunion or corn?
If you’re dealing with knee or hip pain, it may not just be a local problem—it could be a compensation pattern that starts in the foot.
Let’s Talk About Arches
Those arches we often obsess over? We weren’t born with them.
Arches develop in response to movement, especially once a child starts walking. That’s why it’s a great idea to let babies and toddlers be barefoot as much as possible—it gives their feet the chance to develop strength and function naturally.
And yes, the same advice applies to adults too: go barefoot when you can (and where it’s practical).
👣 Not necessarily in the office—unless you work somewhere very relaxed!
Why Arches Matter
Your arches are responsible for:
- Absorbing shock
- Acting as a spring
- Supporting efficient propulsion with every step
If your arches are flat or collapsed (also called pronated), your foot can’t absorb shock properly. That excess strain travels upward—often into the knees, hips, or lower back.
The Problem With Shoes
Shoes are helpful—but they can also interfere with natural function.
Think of them like a moon boot or a cast: they give temporary support, but they do the job your feet should be doing themselves.
When that support becomes permanent, the muscles and joints of the feet don’t get the stimulation they need to stay strong and adaptable.
I like to wear bare foot shoes for this very reason. The only issue I have now is finding mainstream shoes that don’t squash my feet!
The Takeaway
If you’re tired of sore muscles and mystery aches, ask yourself:
What am I doing with my feet every day?
✅ Try walking barefoot around the house or garden.
✅ Even better, walk barefoot after your Egoscue menu, when your body is balanced and aligned.
Because strong feet = a stronger foundation for your entire body.
If you’re ready to start restoring you body’s natural alignment, balance, and movement patterns, then get in touch for a chat. I’ll help you with an Postural Alignment program that supports long term change from the ground up.