The foot is one of the most fascinating parts of the human body. The foot alone contains 26 bones, connected by 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles (“Foot Facts: Human Feet Anatomy Information and Problems”). Each of them performs a special task, each has a unique mission to accomplish so that the greatest benefit of the individual can be walking, running, dancing, or accomplishing another task they may have in front of them. This complex mechanism, which has been refined over years of evolution almost to perfection in all areas in which humans move, is, however, far from indestructible. Many conditions affect the human foot, including arthritis, bunions, tarsal tunnel, hammertoes, and everyday blisters and bruises, not to mention broken or fractured bones. These problems occur often because one in six people have a major foot problem, like the ones just listed ("Foot Facts: Information and Problems About Human Foot Anatomy."). These problems are magnified when competing at a very intense level in sports that rely almost entirely on leg and foot function. So how can an athlete maintain the health of these precious appendages of the body? To find the answer, we go back to 18th century England, where the evolution of the modern athletic shoe begins (Kippen, par.1() Shoes have taken on different forms throughout history. Sandals used from those in the Middle East and Egypt, to the boots of Canadians and Alaskans, to Africans and Greek Olympic athletes who wore no shoes at all, the variety of foot protection is varied. shoes were a wooden or leather base plate in those days Some would even add foam to the soles and inside the paper...... Works Cited “Feet Facts: Information and Issues on the. Anatomy of Human Feet". Web. November 8, 2011. .Kippen, Cameron. "The History of the Athletic Shoe | Running Community." Best Tips, Races, and Routes for Runners Around the World. Run The Planet . November 2011. .Ouroboros. “Running Shoes, A History.” Everything2.com November 2, 2002. Web November 6, 2011..Schaap, Jeremy. "Jesse Owens' four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics still stand as greatest sporting achievement - ESPN." ESPN: the world leader in sports. Internet. November 6. 2011..