Footprint research in healthy children

Objective To study the growth and development of foot in healthy children.Methods Footprint of 524 healthy children (278 boys, 246 girls) were measured with German Schein orthopedics equipment. The length, medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and lateral longitudinal arch (LLA) of the footprint were recorded. The incidence of lateral longitudinal arch, low arched foot and high arched foot were calculated. The subjects were grouped according to their age. The mean of footprint length, MLA index and LLA index were calculated. The curve of MLA index, LLA index and the foot length were plotted. The histogram of the frequency of LLA, low arched foot and high arched foot were plotted.Results The findings showed that the feet grew most rapidly between newborn period to 2 years of age. From age two onward, the feet maintained an almost constant growth rate, which was the same for both sexes until 12 years age. From newborn up to 2 year, there was a high index of MLA. Rapid progression of MLA development was observed on between 3～7 years of age. There was a little change of MLA index between 8～12years of age. But LLA index was high, which stayed at 80%. The frequency of LLA was 0 under 1 year of age. It increased between 2～6 years of age. Its rate maintained at 50%～60% between 7～12 years of age. A low arched foot was more common between newborn to 2 years of age. It then decreased with age. Between 8～9 years of age, its incidence dropped to 0. Conversely, high arched foot occurs after 12 years of age in Chinese children, the frequency of which was only 18%.Conclusions The findings show that the feet grew and developed most rapidly up newborn to 2 years of age. Rapid progression of MLA and LLA development are observed on between 3 and 7 years of age. There is relative constant of MLA and LLA between 8 and 12 years of age. Compared with Jose's reports, low arched foot is more common in Chinese children than the Caucasians. High arched foot starts at a later age and its incidence is lower.