ABSTRACT
Inappropriate footwear is a major cause of foot illness and injuries among the elderly. Although, proper fitting footwear improves fit and comfort; balance; and reduces illnesses and injuries, foot shape data needed to design footwear is still lacking. Very few studies have characterized the geriatric foot shape. This study provides an in-depth study of foot anthropometry and foot surface model. The foot shapes of 100 (50 males and 50 females) elderly were measured using a 3D foot scanner. Foot shapes and 18 foot parameters together with stature, body weight, and age were collected. Results showed no significant paired differences between the left and right foot for both genders, despite absolute individual differences between left and right foot. As for gender, female foot parameters were significantly smaller compared to male foot parameters. In order to see shape differences, the foot was nonnalized by foot length. There were significant differences for ball girth, foot width, lateral sphyrion fibulare height, medial sphyrion fibulare height and medial malcolus height; and marginally significant differences for the lateral sphyrion
height and instep girth between genders. This indicates differences in shaped between genders. The average foot shape was then computed and showed differences between genders. Normalized foot shape was compared to visually see differences in genders. A look at individual feet indicates that the geriatric toes were generally more deformed and hence may require more toe space during footwear design. Results of this study can be used for the footwear development for the Hong Kong elderly Chinese.
