Foot deformation during walking: differences between static and dynamic 3D foot morphology in developing feet

Area of Science:

• Podiatry
• Biomechanics
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Children's foot development is a complex process influenced by genetics and environment.
• Proper footwear is crucial to avoid hindering natural foot development and function.
• Existing footwear designs may not adequately accommodate the dynamic changes in developing feet.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and quantify the differences between static and dynamic foot morphology in children aged 6-16 years.
• To provide data for optimizing footwear construction for developing feet.
• To analyze foot measurements under various weight-bearing and dynamic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a novel scanner system (DynaScan4D) to capture foot morphology.
• Recorded feet from 2554 participants (6-16 years) in static (half and full weight-bearing) and dynamic (walking) states.
• Calculated key foot measures relevant to footwear last construction and analyzed differences using ANOVA and t-tests.

Main Results:

• Identified significant variations between static and dynamic foot measurements.
• Observed an increase in forefoot width and a decrease in midfoot girth during dynamic activities.
• Recommended a more rounded toe box shape based on morphological findings.

Conclusions:

• Static and dynamic foot measurements are both essential for accurate footwear fitting in children.
• Footwear for developing feet must accommodate increased forefoot width and reduced midfoot girth.
• Findings provide critical insights for the design and manufacturing of children's footwear to support healthy foot development.