A Study of Footprints in Athletes and Non-Athletic People
Teerawat Kulthanan MD*, Sith Techakampuch MD*, Natee Donphongam BEd**
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine,Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University ** Department of Physical Education, Srinakarinvirot University
Footprint analysis is a simple, cost-effective and readily available method for evaluation of flat feet,
to identify a person in forensic content and for shoe manufacturing.
Objective : To examine the footprints in athletes and non-athletes and to compare their footprint measurements.
Materials and Methods : Four hundred and ninety-two athletes and four hundred and thirty-one non-athletes
were recruited. Their age range was eighteen to thirty five years. The athletes were classified by sport level
: national and non-national athletes. Footprint devices, foot impression system, produced by Berkemann
Company was used. The right and left foot of each subject were measured separately in a standing position.
Descriptive Statistics, ANOVA, chi-square test and simple correlation were used in this study.
Result : The length between the heel to the first toe was shorter than that of to the second toe in national
athletes. This finding was opposite to the non-athletes. The metatarsal distance in national atheletes were
significantly wider than the others. The ratio of the length of footprint and body height showed significant
difference between athletes and non-athletes. The Flat Index of national athletes was longer than the others.
In males, the percentage of the state of contacting the ground of the fifth toe was significantly higher among
athletes than non-athletes.
Conclusion : The footprint parameters were somewhat different between persons who had experience in
sport level and general non-athletic people.
Keywords : Footprint analysis
