ORIGINAL PAPER
Correlation between the footwear worn by school-age children and morphological structure of the foot
1
Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
2
Rehabilitation Clinic, Provincial General Hospital, Kielce, Poland
3
Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
4
Sutherland Medical Center, Warsaw, Poland
Submission date: 2023-12-05
Final revision date: 2024-07-20
Acceptance date: 2024-07-22
Publication date: 2025-04-18
Corresponding author
Paulina K. Sztandera
Paulina K. Sztandera Collegium Medicum Jan Kochanowski University Kielce, Poland
Paulina K. Sztandera Collegium Medicum Jan Kochanowski University Kielce, Poland
Medical Studies 2025;41(3):225-232
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Any ill-fitting footwear may contribute to causing foot deformities in children, whilst exposing them to an undue risk of sustaining accidental injuries, and promote incorrect postural development in the long run.
Aim of the research:
This study aimed to probe the association between the fit of the footwear actually worn by school-age children and the morphological structure of their feet.
Material and methods:
The study group consisted of 1225 school-age children, stratified by gender and age. The morphological structure of the plantar part of the foot in static conditions was assessed with the aid of a 2D podoscan. The key variables determining the foot indicators were considered. The sizes of the footwear actually worn by the subjects were compared against the referential ones, based on the length of the foot.
Results:
Linear dependence was established between the size of the footwear actually worn by the children and the referential one, as recommended by the podoscope readout. The assessment of footwear fit revealed to be determined by gender.
Conclusions:
Over 50% of children were found to wear the ill-fitting footwear in terms of shoe length. It can be seen that the general trend for children is to wear one size larger footwear than their foot length would suggest. Parents should primarily take into account the actual type of the foot and the fast rate of its lengthwise growth when selecting and purchasing the footwear for their children, with a view to ensuring that their feet would be provided with the right conditions for proper growth and development.
Any ill-fitting footwear may contribute to causing foot deformities in children, whilst exposing them to an undue risk of sustaining accidental injuries, and promote incorrect postural development in the long run.
Aim of the research:
This study aimed to probe the association between the fit of the footwear actually worn by school-age children and the morphological structure of their feet.
Material and methods:
The study group consisted of 1225 school-age children, stratified by gender and age. The morphological structure of the plantar part of the foot in static conditions was assessed with the aid of a 2D podoscan. The key variables determining the foot indicators were considered. The sizes of the footwear actually worn by the subjects were compared against the referential ones, based on the length of the foot.
Results:
Linear dependence was established between the size of the footwear actually worn by the children and the referential one, as recommended by the podoscope readout. The assessment of footwear fit revealed to be determined by gender.
Conclusions:
Over 50% of children were found to wear the ill-fitting footwear in terms of shoe length. It can be seen that the general trend for children is to wear one size larger footwear than their foot length would suggest. Parents should primarily take into account the actual type of the foot and the fast rate of its lengthwise growth when selecting and purchasing the footwear for their children, with a view to ensuring that their feet would be provided with the right conditions for proper growth and development.
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| eISSN: | 2300-6722 |
| ISSN: | 1899-1874 |
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