Comparison of foot structure between urban and rural Indian school children

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Limited information on morphological characteristics of feet among rural (walking predominantly bare foot) and urban Indian children motivated this study. The objective was to study and compare foot characteristics of Indian rural and urban school children. METHOD: A convenience sample of 200 healthy children aged 6-15 yrs with no history of foot pain was studied. 100 rural children were matched on marginal distributions for age and body mass with 100 urban children for comparison. Plantar pressure and foot geometry measurements were collected using EMED-SF system. Medial longitudinal arch height was recorded using Arch Index (AI). ANCOVA and Independent sample t-test were used for between group comparisons. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Rural Indian children presented with 24 % lower body weight (BMI rural children = 15.35; BMI urban children = 18.17) and 5% lower height. When corrected for stature, they had 4% shorter feet, 3% wider forefoot, 28% narrower mid foot and 15% higher arches compared to urban children. When corrected for body weight, rural children demonstrated approximately 22% lower pressures in forefoot and 5% in the mid foot. Foot characteristics of rural children can be considered favorable in development of MLA and prevention of forefoot injuries resulting from overuse.