Gender and Age Differences in the Contact Area of the Soles of the Feet and its Relationship with Physique in Preschool Children

Abstract

　This study aimed to examine gender and age differences in the contact area of the soles of the feet and its relationship with physique in 170 healthy preschool children aged 3 to 6 years. They stood on the instrument (Pedoscope) with their bare feet in a standing posture, while closely gazing at a fixed object located 2 meters in front of them. During standing, the contact surface area of the soles of their feet was pictured and recorded. Gross foot length, foot length (the length taken the toe length from the gross foot length), gross foot area, foot area (the area taken the toe area from the gross foot area), and the upper part of the foot width grow with age and have close relationships with growth of height and weight. However, each toe area and toe length hardly grow. The upper part of the foot width grows with age and the contact area of the soles of the feet changes into the form of an inverted trapezoid with high stability. Gross foot area, foot area, and the middle part of the foot width are larger in boys than in girls, but the difference is not large.