2010 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 119-127
This study aimed to examine the relationship between the presence or absence and the number of floating-toes and physical fitness in 456 preschool children （241 boys and 215 girls） aged from 4 to 6 years. The presence of floating-toes was judged based on the pictures of the contact surface area of the soles of the subjects. The relationships between floating-toes and the total score of 7 physical fitness tests （grip strength, standing long jump, softball throw, 25-m run, side-step, upright hand standing time, and sitting trunk flexion）, and the total score of 3 physical fitness tests which are highly involved with the use of toes （standing long jump, 25-m run, and side-step） and each individual test were examined. Coefficients of contingency between the presence or absence of floating-toes and physical fitness tests were not significant. However, in boys, coefficients between the number of floating-toes and the total score of the 3 tests and the standing long jump were significant, and the lower-scoring group in these test tended to have more floating-toes. In conclusion, the presence or absence of floating-toes may not relate to physical fitness in preschool children. However, in boys, the number of floating-toes influences the performance of a standing long jump in which the use of toes is important, that is, instantaneous force.
