Comparison of ratio loaded and unloaded foot area of flat foot and healthy foot in younger adults

Abstract

This study is aimed to investigate loaded and unloaded foot area ratio (RFA, ratio of foot area) as special tests for the basis of clinical examination of flat foot and healthy foot. Type of foot is determined by Cavanagh’s arch indexes (AI) which is the ratio between mid foot area to entire footprint area excluding the toes. Type of foot is called high arch when AIAI≥0.21 and flat foot when AI>0.26. The entire loaded foot and footprint area for evaluating AI derived from a digital footprint is modified from document scanner, while the entire unloaded foot area derived from a 3D scanner. One hundred and two healthy students (87 males and 15 females, average aged 20 years and average BMI 22.51 kg/m2) is asked voluntarily for doing footprint and scan. From 102 subjects found 63 participants identified as flat foot and 31 subjects are healthy feet. This study proves that the higher the value of AI the higher the value of RFA and foot type can be predicted by the value of RFA. For type of foot is high arch RFARFA≥0.49 and for flat foot RFA>0.55.