The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between the shape of the arch of the foot and play activities in children when they return home from kindergarten. Furthermore, the length and type of play activity after returning home, as well as the children’s center of gravity, footprint and floating toes (measured from data of the sole of the foot) were investigated in this study. The subjects of this study were 124 3-5-year-old children whose height, weight, and data of the soles of their feet as well as a questionnaire from their parents could be obtained. On the basis of the results of the questionnaire, the children were classified into two groups: the high play activity group (48 children) and the low play activity group(76 children).
The results are written below.
1. Indoor play time was significantly (t=3.24, P<0.01; t=8.52, P<0.01) longer than outdoor play time in both the high play activity group and the low play activity group. This tendency was weaker in the high play activity group than the low play activity group.
2. When comparing the high play activity group with the low play activity group, it is evident that the right foot arch index was significantly (t=2.22, P<0.05) higher and the left foot had the tendency (t=1.96, P=0.052) to be higher.
3. When comparing the high play activity group with the low play activity group, the center of gravity of the right foot was more forward (t=2.05, P<0.05), and the inverse trapezoid degree of heel width and foot width showed a tendency to be smaller (t=1.92, P=0.057). However, differences between the center of gravity and the inverse trapezoid degree of the left foot were not detectable.
4. When comparing the high play activity group with the low play activity group, the detectable ratio of floating toes on “only left feet” was significantly (P<0.05) lower. However, significant differences between groups could not be observed with regards to“ only right foot”,“ either the left or right foot”, and the“ left and right feet”.
The results show that children who are active when returning home from kindergarten have a higher ratio of outdoor play time and have a more developed the arch of the foot than children who are not very active and play quietly.
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