Abstract
The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between anthropometric data of foot and other body sizes. to categorize the foot shape of elementary school boys and to find out determinant factors related the foot that enable us to deduce the foot shape and size for the design of more comfortable shoes. Subjects of this study were 249 elementary school boys of age ranged from 6 to 11 residing Seoul and lncheon area. Anthropometric sizes were measured with the direct measurement method using Martin scales and the indirect measurement method using digital photos. Pearson's correlation, factor analysis. cluster analysis. analysis of variance, post-hoc test, and cross tabs were performed for statistical analysis of the data by SPSS program. From the investigation on the relationship between foot-related items and body items, most items of foot measure were significantly related to body size items. However, angle of the foot did not related to other body sizes although other height items and mass items of the foot did have relationships with other body sizes. Results of ANOVA indicated there were significant differences in foot-related items except for items of foot angle and all body anthropometric items by subjects' age. This implicates big toe angle, little toe angle and foot ratio factors are required in sizing shoes besides foot length. On the basis of cluster analysis using factor scores. three different foot shapes were categorized. Type 1 was large and wide foot, Type 2 was small and narrow foot with large toe angle. and Type 3 was medium foot with no deformity on big toe. These three groups show significant differences in almost all measurement items. However, Rorher index and foot angle didn't show any significant differences among groups. This implicates the foot shape can be a determinant of shoe size.
