We all know that the middle finger (don’t worry; it is not going the PG18 WAY!); is the longest of all the fingers! It is not the first finger and not even the second! But it is the longest! This is normal!
But (ah! the return of the but!); as far as the toes are concerned, the big toe is not only the biggest, it is also the longest! In majority of course! In many people though the big toe is shorter than the second toe!
Those ‘rare’ people are supposed to be more beautiful and ‘lucky’!
The Ortho doc may not agree though! Well, then you can show him or her the Statue of Liberty!
Did you know that the Statue of Liberty has a longer second toe; sculptor Frederic Bartholdi studied Greek and Roman sculptures, modeling the statue’s feet to define her heritage from the earliest days of civilization!
The anatomical, political and ethnic logic for classic artists starts and ends with the presence of longer second toes in a portion of the population.
In fact, many Roman statues have this!
Dudley Joy Morton first evaluated a second longer toe as a medical condition in 1927, calling it “Metatarsus Atavicus.” or in simple terms Morton’s toe or Greek toe! It is thought to be a divine trait though it can cause more toe problems!
In many cases, Morton’s foot is asymptomatic. However, the altered weight distribution can lead to increased pressure on the second metatarsal, causing pain, calluses, and other issues like Morton’s neuroma or bunions!
You may think is is rare but it is not that rare! Morton’s foot is estimated to affect a significant portion of the population, with estimates ranging from 4% to 30%!
This foot shape, was seen in classical art and architecture, particularly sculptures like the Venus de Milo, as a symbol of beauty, creativity, and the Golden Ratio.
Ancient Greeks, known for their appreciation of beauty and mathematical harmony, associated the longer second toe with ideals of aesthetic perfection!
They believed this foot shape reflected the Golden Ratio, a mathematical proportion considered to embody ideal beauty and balance. The presence of “Greek toes” in famous sculptures like the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s David further solidified its association with classical ideals; not to mention the statue of Liberty!
Morton’s foot is associated with conditions like metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot), increased risk of stress fractures in the second metatarsal, and potential for over-pronation. So if you do have a longer toe then do meet your doctor after you have done admiring its beauty!
But do pay for his or her consultation since only then you will get a good treatment that works! If it is free then it is not going to work! Even a token amount would do! Though not everyone can be like the ten rupee doctor Dr T A Kanagarathinam!
Shubh ratri…
Happy doctor’s day dear friends… and a big thanks to those who wished us…
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