Investigation of Children’s Foot Arch Based on the Variation Between Static and Dynamic Footprint

Since no efforts have been made to comprehend the function of children's foot arch from the viewpoint of the static and dynamic footprint, our study first aimed at quantitatively defining the function of healthy children's longitudinal and transverse arch based on the variation between static and dynamic footprint in terms of foot size, angle and proportion parameters; and then providing a normative range of foot change due to arch for the diagnosis of children's abnormal foot function. The static and dynamic footprint of 401 healthy children aged between two and 11 were first obtained by the way of three-dimensional scanning and plantar pressure measurement. All children were checked by an experienced orthopedic expert and those with foot deformity were excluded. The parameters such as foot length, foot width, arch angle and arch ratio were determined. Paired-T test was mainly applied for statistical analysis with the significant level 0.05. The result shows that significant differences existed between the children's static and dynamic footprint in terms of size, angle and proportion and according to those distinctions, the function of children's foot arch could be quantitatively defined. Besides, our result also indicates that except the age group of two, there were no significant differences between the boys and girls in all age groups and variables. Overall, the function of foot arch was quantitatively defined by variable of foot size, angle and proportion and it was independent to the effect of the gender; meanwhile results of this study could be used in the clinical practice of orthopedics.