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[The contour of the normal foot. A statistical study]
Revue Du Rhumatisme Et Des Maladies Osteo-Articulaires
|February 1, 1980
Summary
Most white adults have arched feet, with women showing higher prevalence than men. The study analyzed foot arch prevalence in 292 young adults, finding arched feet are common, unlike flat feet more frequent in Black populations.
Area of Science:
- Podiatry
- Human Anatomy
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Clinical observations suggested a high prevalence of arched feet.
- Previous data on foot arch distribution across racial groups was limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically determine the prevalence of the arched foot in young adults.
- To compare foot arch prevalence between different racial groups and sexes.
Main Methods:
- Statistical analysis of foot arch measurements in 292 healthy young adults.
- Categorization of foot arches into 'arched', 'intermediary', and 'flat' based on classical definitions.
Main Results:
- The white population exhibits a high prevalence of arched feet (58.2% in men, 78.8% in women).
- Flat feet are notably more common in the Black population.
- The 'intermediary' foot type, often considered 'normal', is present in approximately one-third of the white population.
Conclusions:
- Arched feet are the norm in the white population, contrary to the common 'intermediary' foot type.
- Significant sex-based differences in arched foot prevalence exist within the white population.
- Racial variations in foot morphology, specifically flat vs. arched feet, are statistically significant.