TY - JOUR
T1 - Foot Anthropometric Measurements of Hong Kong Elderly: Implications for Footwear Design
AU - Pui-Ling Li, Kit-Lun Yick, Sun-Pui Ng & Joanne Yip
JO - Journal of Fiber Bioengineering and Informatics
VL - 3
SP - 133
EP - 143
PY - 2016
DA - 2016/09
SN - 9
DO - http://doi.org/10.3993/jfbim00237
UR - https://global-sci.org/intro/article_detail/jfbi/10597.html
KW - Foot problems
KW - Anthropometry
KW - Footwear design
KW - Elderly
KW - 3D scanning
AB - Degenerative changes and foot deformities are common when people get older. Foot deformities, such as
hallux valgus, bunionettes and pes planus, are commonly found among older people, which may lead to
changes in foot anthropometry. A decline in functional mobility and greater risk of falling are linked to
foot deformities and footwear. This study therefore aims to evaluate the anthropometric measurements
between healthy and deformed feet in order to determine the key foot measurements in relation to the
deformed foot which can also act as indicators in current footwear sizing systems. By using a 3D hand-
held scanner, 11 foot anthropometric measurements are captured and used to characterise the dimensions
and foot shape between healthy and deformed feet. A total of 49 elderly people between the ages of
65-95 years old, including 41 women and 8 men (mean: 81.71; SD: 7.08) are recruited for this study. The
results indicate that the foot characteristics of elderly people with foot deformities are different from
those without deformities, especially in the larger deformity of the degree of hallux valgus and increased
width of the ball for women, and higher instep height for men. The length of the foot and ball, width
and girth of the ball, and degree of hallux valgus deformity are common predictors for differentiating
between healthy and deformed feet. It is also found that the current footwear sizing systems fail to
accommodate the foot dimensions of elderly people in both foot length and width, which may therefore
lead to foot discomfort and even limit their daily life activities.