Anthropometric Evaluation of Body Composition and Foot Arches of African and European Women

Abstract

Anthropometry is the branch of ergonomics that deals with body shape and size. The parts of the human body varies in size and in shape, thus, there is a need to take these variations into consideration whenever a product is designed for their use. The absence of the application of ergonomics principles could result musculoskeletal disorders. Evolutionary development of humans over the years has produced erect posture among humans necessary for their functionality and effective interaction with their immediate environment. The sole of the human foot has evolved to attain an arch and a three‐point support, which supports the body from either falling back or front. The foot is complex in structure and by function. It plays a major role in keeping the body in balance and steady. Body composition is the proportion of fat and fat‐free mass in the body. However, the fat and non‐essential body fat can be excessively stored in the body and may tend to be unhealthy to the human body and the foot. In this study we aim to preliminarily evaluate the relationship between body composition and anthropometric features of the foot, among women from African and European origin. A total of 150 feet of young women from African and European origin between the ages of 18 and 27 were recruited for the study. The required anthropometric parameters were measured. The shtriter index, a Russian method to determining height of foot arches was used, and body composition examined using BMI. The data were analysed using T‐test and regression analysis. The respective parameters for African and European women were measured: mean Height (H) of 159.6±0.54 and 164.3±0.69, (p<0.05), Body Mass Index (BMI) 24.5±0.40 and 21.1±0.25 (p<0.05), Foot Length (FL) 22.6±0.14 and 22.8±0.13 (p>0.05), Foot Width (FW) 8.3±0.07 and 8.4±0.05 (p>0.05), Length of Medial Longitudinal Arch (LMLA) 14.2±0.12 and 13.5±0.10 (p<0.05), and Width of Posterior Transverse Arch (WPTA) 3.4±0.13 and 2.5±0.12 (p<0.05). For African women, 51% of the total number of feet were FAF (Flat‐Arch Foot) and LAF (Low‐Arch Foot); 33% – VHAF (Very High‐Arched Foot) and HAF (High‐Arched Foot). European women recorded 18% – FAF and LAF; 74% – VHAF and HAF. The research revealed significance difference in the anthropometric parameters of the foot between women from the African and European origin. We speculate that the significant difference in the former is due to the significant difference in their body composition. Reasons for the significant difference in some of the anthropometric parameters of the foot were attributed to factors such as environment, genetics, and origin of race.Support or Funding InformationResearch supported by the Department of Human Anatomy at RUDN University, Moscow, RussiaThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.