Anthropometric Measurements of Foot in Undergraduate Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometry is one of the important parameters for differentiation of sex which varies significantly based on hereditary, geographical, racial, sexual, and other factors. This study was done to provide baseline foot anthropometric data for Nepali medical students to improve the accuracy of stature estimations and enhance forensic and clinical applications. The aim of the study was to calculate anthropometric measurements of foot in undergraduate medical students of a medical college. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students studying at a tertiary care hospital during the period of November 6, 2022 to February 28, 2023 after obtaining ethical clearance from the institutional review committee (reference number: 06/2022). A total sampling method was used. The present study was conducted to determine the mean foot index from the right and left foot, mean measurements of the left and right foot, and sex-related dimensions of the foot in Nepalese medical students. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Results: Out of 115 participants, the mean foot index for male and female were 38.34±2.13 and 39.33±2.22 respectively. The mean length of the right foot for males and females were 24.12±0.98 cm and 22.10±1.25 cm respectively. The mean length of the left foot for males and females was 24.20±1.06 cm and 22.07±1.24 cm respectively. Conclusions: This study provides mean values of different measurements of the right and left foot of both sexes of the age group of 18-24 years in the students of a medical college.

Keywords

• anthropometry
• foot breadth
• foot index
• foot length
• Nepal