Foot laterality during childhood: a review

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Human Motor Control

Background:

• Footedness is increasingly recognized for its potential in assessing neuropsychological functioning.
• Limited data exists on the developmental trajectory of foot laterality in children.
• Understanding foot preference development is crucial for accurate neuropsychological evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing studies on foot laterality distribution in children aged 3 to 11 years.
• To compare developmental patterns of foot laterality with established handedness characteristics.
• To explore the implications of foot laterality findings for neuropsychological assessment and motor skill instruction.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies examining trichotomous foot laterality distribution across childhood.
• Comparative analysis of foot laterality data against concurrent handedness data in the same age groups.
• Theoretical discussion incorporating Annett's Right-Shift hypothesis and cultural factors for mixed-footedness.

Main Results:

• Right-side foot dominance is less pronounced in children compared to right-side hand dominance.
• Approximately twice as many children exhibit mixed foot laterality (no dominant limb) than mixed-handedness.
• The age-related increase in right-sidedness observed in handedness is not evident for foot laterality in this age range.

Conclusions:

• Foot laterality development in childhood follows a distinct pattern from handedness development.
• The higher prevalence of mixed-footedness warrants further investigation within developmental and neurological frameworks.
• Findings suggest a need to adapt neuropsychological assessments and motor skill interventions to account for foot laterality variations.