How did ancient Egyptians walk? Some used prosthetic toes, according to British researchers.
Manchester University researchers have proved that two artificial toes found in Egyptian tombs could be used successfully to aid walking.
Details of a successful experiment, using the toes dating from 600BC at the height of Egyptian power, have now been reported in The Lancet.
Two volunteers who are missing their own big toes, tested exact replicas of the Egyptian toes at a gait laboratory at Salford University, wearing replica Egyptian sandals.
Researcher Dr Jacky Finch says the big toe has to carry as much as 40 per cent of the body’s weight – so a replacement must be strong and easy to attach to the foot.
Dr Finch said: "Until we were able to test replicas of both toes using volunteers under laboratory conditions, it remained uncertain if they could indeed help their owners to walk.
"My findings strongly suggest that both of these designs were capable of functioning as replacements for the lost toe and so could indeed be classed as prosthetic devices.
"If that is the case then it would appear that the first glimmers of this branch of medicine should be firmly laid at the feet of the ancient Egyptians."
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