Footprint analysis in a subadult Slovak population (aged 10-18 years) for stature estimation: a preliminary study

Footprints are commonly recovered from crime scenes and accident sites. Stature estimation remains a fundamental parameter in the biological profiling of unidentified individuals, and footprint‑based methods act as an established and supplementary approach in person identification. The present cross-sectional study aims to examine the relationship between stature and footprint morphometrics in Slovak subadults and to explore their applicability in forensic anthropology caseworks and human growth research. The research included 110 subadults (58 females and 52 males) aged 10-18 years. Morphometric static footprint parameters, comprising five toe length (FPT1-FPT5), ball breadth (FPBB) and heel breadth (FPHB), along with stature, were obtained. Results indicated positive correlations of stature with all footprint variables (R = 0.366-0.894, p < 0.001), with toe lengths showing stronger associations than breadth measurements. Multiple regression models with age as a covariate demonstrated superior predictive accuracy, achieving coefficient values (R²) up to 0.910 in males and 0.820 in females. Footprints show potential for stature estimation in the subadult population, particularly when multiple footprint variables are included in regression models. Further investigations on larger and more diverse subadult populations along with age-based stratifications are recommended to validate and extend the outcomes of this research.