ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN FOREFOOT SHAPE AND THE DETERMINATION OF SHOE COMFORT

The kinanthropometric aspects of comfort of fit of sport shoes has not been subjected to any great scrutiny. It is suggested that comfort of fit is largely determined by the match of foot shape to shoe shape an d consequently there is a need for normative data that describe foot s hape, dimension and proportion for discrete populations. A study of 70 8 second generation Caucasian N. American (NA) and 513 Japanese and Ko rean (JK) male subjects was conducted to determine normative data with respect to forefoot shape and dimension. A series of 2 height, 7 leng th, 1 breadth and 1 girth measures of the right foot bearing full body weight was recorded using a modified Mitutoyo digital caliper interfa ced with a micro-processor. Substantial differences were noted in the incidence of digital patterning. The relative proportion of digital pa tterns I (1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5) and II (2 > 1 > 3 > 4 > 5) were NA 76.09% , 23.91%; JK 50.80% and 49.20% respectively. The distance between the pternion and the distal extremity of the second digit expressed as a p ercentage of the maximum foot length (MFL) was found to be 98.60% (NA) and 99.60% (JK). In addition, the distance between the pternion and t he distal extremity of the fifth digit relative to MFL was 82.60% (NA) and 85.00% (JK). The implication of these data is that the anterior m argin of the JK foot makes a less acute angle with the long axis of th e foot than the NA population. Additional information with respect to foot breadth leads to the conclusion that the shape of the JK forefoot differs from that of the NA, with the implication that unique shoe la sts for both populations are required for optimal shoe comfort.