MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF BILATERAL VARIATIONS IN THE ANATOMY OF FOOT

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Abhilasha Setia, Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, J.C.D. dental college, Sirsa, Haryana, India. Ph: 9466593001,E-Mail: abhilasha.setia@gmail.com Introduction: Foot dynamic anthropometry has a vital role in medical rehabilitation, sport science, and footwear design among others. There is wide diversity in human foot size and shape depending upon race, age, sex etc. It is known that one’s foot size changes with age. Children and teenagers grow one to three foot sizes each year Materials and Methods: Present research has been designed to study the bilateral variations in the anatomy of foot. The study is conducted on 400 young females ranging in age from 5.00 –20.99 years, residing in Haryana region of India. The foot length and foot width dimensions (and derived foot index) of female subjects are quantitatively analyzed to find bilateral asymmetry. A total of 400 female subjects divided into eight age groups, i.e. i) 5.00-6.99 ii) 7.008.99 iii) 9.00-10.99 years iv) 11.00-12.99 years v) 13.0014.99 vi) 15.00-16.99 vii) 17.0018.99 viii) 19.00-20.99 were measured for Foot length and foot breadth using standard anthropometric techniques. Percentage distribution of asymmetry is found using the formula of Relative index of asymmetry (RIA) given by wolansky (1965). Results and Conclusion: Results indicate the increasing trends in foot length and foot breadth in all the age groups. Applying Student’s t-test reveals statistically significant bilateral asymmetry in foot length of all the age groups except for age group ranging from 9.00-10.99 whereas bilateral asymmetry for foot breadth is nonsignificant for three groups i.e. 5.00-6.99, 9.00-10.99 and 15.00-16.99. Present observation can be used as base line data for the use of forensic science and foot shape.

footwear, foot size and proportion is of great importance for proper fit and comfort of foot within the shoe.Generally it is also proved that adult male foot dimensions are larger than the adult female foot dimensions.Ewunonu et al. have shown significantly higher mean values of foot length and foot breadth in males than females [5].The study further indicated that in both males and females, right foot is longer and wider than left foot.In majority of the elderly people, the feet are considerably broader than the footwear available [6].Manna et al found no significant difference in foot dimensions between the right and left foot of Bengalee (Indian) female subjects except the foot breadth [7].For 18 years and above, Nigerian feet are longer and broader in males than in females.Both Nigerian males and females feet had higher mean foot length than that of Caucasians [8].Similar observation was made by Oladipo et al. who found right foot 2 to 3 mm longer and wider, and suggested that the left and right shoe shape should not be symmetrical while designing footwear [9].No statistically significant difference in right and left foot length in females of Gulbarga, Karnataka, are observed [10].Contributing studies on foot size and proportions are useful in forensic, designing shoe and orthopedic applications but data on bilateral variations of foot length and foot breadth for Indian populations is still lacking which emphasize the need to conduct the present study.
Aims and objectives: Keeping in view the importance of foot anthropometry the present study aims to report the foot length, foot breadth and foot index of the left and right feet and find bilateral differences and to see if there are any age related changes in these measurements.
Hisar, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sonipat, Karnal, Ambala and Jind Districts.Prior informed consent for the study is obtained from subjects (if adult) otherwise from their parents before their participation in the study.Ethical approval is taken from the university institutional ethical committee before the commencement of study.The subjects are advised not to change their position while measurements being taken.Foot length and foot breadth of the female subjects is measured using standard anthropometric techniques given by Lohman et al [11].Foot length is measured using measuring steel tape and Sliding caliper is used for measuring the foot width.Foot index of both right and left feet is also calculated.The data is analyzed to find mean, standard deviation.Subjects with apparent foot anomalies, inflammation, trauma, deformities and surgery (if any) are excluded because of their unsuitability for the investigation.used: Spreading caliper, Measuring tape.Somatometric measurements Foot Length: It is distance measured from acropodian ( it is the most forwardly projecting point on the head of the first or second toe whichever is larger when the subject stands erect) to pternion( it is the most backwardly projecting point on the heel) [12].Foot Breadth: The foot breadth is measured as the distance between medial margin of the head of the first metatarsal and lateral margin of the head of the fifth metatarsal 12 .Foot index (FI): Is calculated as foot width divided by foot length and multiplied by 100 (Jung et al.2001) [13].Foot Indices: Foot index = Foot breadth x 100 length Relative Index of Asymmetry (RIA): Percentage distribution of asymmetry in the foot dimensions i.e. foot length, foot breadth and foot index is calculated using the formula of Relative Index of Asymmetry (RIA) given by Wolanski (1965)

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The data of present study is comprised of 400 young Haryanvi females ranging in age from 5.00 to 20.99 years.To see the age related changes in foot size and proportion the sample is further divided into eight age groups i) (5.00-6.99years), ii) (7.00-8.99years), iii) (9.00-10.99years), iv) (11.00-12.99years) v) (13.00-14.99)vi) 15.00-16.99vii) 17.00-18.99viii) 19.00-20.99.The subjects are chosen on simple random basis from Haryana including Sirsa, Fathehabad, Where D is the mean difference between right and left side measurement of the body.Individual differences are calculated as higher value minus lower value.X R is the mean for right side of the body.X L is the mean for the left side of the body.
Within sample variation occurs more for foot length in both right and left feet as compared to foot width.Percentage distribution of asymmetry in the foot dimensions is calculated and is resulting in the significant values for all three foot dimensions.(2008) who found right foot 2 3 mm longer and wider, and suggested that the left and right shoe shape should not be symmetrical while designing footwear [9].Findings from the present studies did not confirm all the results of earlier findings completely, however present study found longer right foot like earlier studies but found left foot broader than the right foot.Maximum intra sample variability is found in foot length in all the age groups.
The study concludes that foot length, foot width (foot size) andfoot index (foot shape of Haryanvi femalesshows statistically significant bilateral differences.Present observation can be used as base line data for the use of forensic science and foot shape is essential for the properly designing of the shoe shape.There are considerable variations for the patterns of growth within human population.Causes of these variations can be understood by conducting such growth studies.

INTRODUCTION
International Journal of Anatomy and Research, Int J Anat Res 2017, Vol 5(2.2):3846-49.ISSN 2321-4287 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.201Ideally, foot measurements should be taken separately for each size to allow the proper shoe fit across all sizes [3].Various dimensions of each foot of an individual often differ from one another -thus one particular size of a shoe might fit one foot but not the other, even though there may not be significant bilateral differences in the dimensions [4].For proper designing of Foot dynamic anthropometry has a vital role in medical rehabilitation, sport science, and footwear design among others [1].There is wide diversity in human foot size and shape depending upon race, age, sex etc.It is known that one's foot size changes with age.Children and teenagers grow one to three foot sizes each year[2].Abhilasha, Ajitpal Singh.MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF BILATERAL VARIATIONS IN THE ANATOMY OF FOOT.

Table 1 :
Mean and Standard Deviation (SD) of Foot length, Foot breadth and Foot Index of Right Foot.
Relative Index of Asymmetry (RIA) values of foot index are significant for all the age groups and are explained in table no.3, 4 and 5. RIA values of foot length are significant for all age groups except for the age group 9.00-10.99and7.00-8.99.Similarly RIA values for foot breadth dimensions are significant for all age groups except for the age group 9.00-10.99.The t-values listed in Table6shows that there is statistically significant bilateral difference in the above mentioned foot measurements.Applying Student's t-test reveals statistically significant bilateral asymmetry in foot length of all the age groups except for age group ranging from 9.00-10.99whereasbilateral asymmetry for foot breadth is not significant for three groups i.e. 5.00-6.99,9.00-10.99and15.00-16.99.Most statistically significant value for foot length and foot breadth is 11.82507** and 11.35607** respectively is found in the same age group i.e. 13.00-14.99.Least significant value for foot length is 2.972253* and foot breadth is 5.4220594* found in age group 7.00-8.99and17.00-18.99respectively.OBSERVATIONS 9.00-10.995020.72 1.02 5.688 0.352 27.45 1.07411.00-12.9950 22.436 0.583 6.556 0.323 29.2 0.822 13.00-14.9950 23.2680.798 7.308 0.138 31.43 0.984 15.00-16.9950 23.6380.855 7.07 0.329 29.9 0.706 17.00-18.9950 24.20.938 7.026 0.41 29.05 1.642 19.00-20.9950 23.8861.145 7.084 0.463 29.69 2.002

Table 2 :
Mean and Standard Deviation (SD) of Foot length, Foot breadth and Foot Index of Left Foot.

Table 3 :
Relative Index of Asymmetry (RIA) of Foot length.

Table 4 :
Relative Index of Asymmetry (RIA) of Foot breadth.

Table 5 :
Relative Index of Asymmetry (RIA) of Foot Index.
Abhilasha, Ajitpal Singh.MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF BILATERAL VARIATIONS IN THE ANATOMY OF FOOT.

Table 6 :
t Values of Foot Measurements.
[7]na et al. (2001)en found that only few studies are available comparing the bilateral asymmetry of foot dimensions.Manna et al. (2001)found no significant difference in foot dimensions between the right and left foot of Bengalee (Indian) female subjects except the foot breadth[7].For 18 years and above, Nigerian feet are longer and broader in males than in females.Both Nigerian males and females feet had higher mean foot length than that of Cucassians [8].Similar observation was made by Oladipo et al.