Quantification of the foot arch in children based on 3D foot geometry and its relationship to body shape and motor performance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19614
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Kokushikan University
• Principal Investigator: Hirano Tomoya 国士舘大学, スポーツ・システム研究科, 助手 (90805186)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 子ども / 3次元足部形状 / 足部アーチ / 肥満 / 体型 / 運動能力 / 発育発達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to quantify the foot arch in children based on 3D foot geometry and clarify its relationship with body shape and athletic performance. First, a method for quantifying arch volume was established for infants and adults. In addition, we found that there was no significant difference in navicular height between obese/overweight and normal weight groups and no significant correlation between navicular height and athletic ability (50-m run, standing long jump) in boys in the upper grades of elementary school. These findings suggest that children's medial longitudinal arch of the foot varies greatly among individuals and is not necessarily related to body shape or athletic ability.

Free Research Field

スポーツバイオメカニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，延べ1000名を超える日本人の子どもの3次元足部形状データを収集でき，これらのデータそのものはシューズやインソール等の工業製品の開発に必要な基礎的知見となりうる．さらに，新たな足部内側縦アーチの評価指標であるアーチボリュームを定量したことで，更なる足部アーチ研究の発展が期待できる．