Foot Breadth in Children—Its Relationship to Limb Dominance and Age

Abstract

A total of 996 school pupils between the ages of 5 and 12 yr were studied for the relationship between foot breadth and limb dominance. The test of significance and chi-square analysis were used in the calculation. Limb dominance is divided into upper limb dominance (handedness) and lower limb dominance (footedness). No asymetry or difference was found between the right and left foot ( P < 0.69) in terms of foot breadth. A significant correlation between limb dominance and foot breadth was not found ( P < 0.01). An ipsolateral relationship exists between the two forms of limb dominance—92.37% of right handers are right footed while 51.85% of left handers are left footed. As an offshot of this work an equation for the estimation of a child's age from his foot breadth is given.