Text Box: FOOTPRINT RESEARCH IN CHILDREN
Han Jin-Ming, Qin Jun-Chang
Division of Orthopedics, Shenzhen Children¡¯Hospital, Shenzhen, China

Objective: To research the development of the foot in children. 
Methods: To measure static footprint obtained on 524 healthy subjects (boy 278, girl 246) by German Schein orthopedics service, which range in age from newborn to 12 years. The length of the footprint was measured; Medial longitudinal arch (MLA) and lateral longitudinal arch (LLA) were evaluated. To calculate the frequency of lateral longitudinal arch, low-arched foot and high-arched foot. The subjects were divided into groups according to 1-year interval. The mean of the length of footprint, MLA index and LLA index were calculated. The curve picture of MLA index and LLA index were drawn. The curve picture of the length of the foot were drawn; The histogram were illustrated for the frequency of  LLA, low-arched foot and high-arched foot.  
Results: The findings showed that the feet grew most rapidly newborn to 2 years of age. From age 2 onward, the feet maintained an almost constant growth rate, which was the same for both sexes until age 12 years. From newborn up to 2 year, there was a low index of MLA; Rapid progression of MLA development was observed between 3-7 years of age. There was a little change of MLA index between 8-12years of age. But LLA index was low, which maintained among 8-10. Frequency of LLA, which was 0 newborn to 1; which increased as age increased between 2-6year; the rate of which maintained among 50-60%. A low-arched foot was more common up newborn to 2 years of age, which decreased as age increased. At age 8-9 years it¡¯s incidence dropped to 0. Conversly, high-arched foot occurs only at 12 years of age in Chinese children, the frequency of which was only 18%. Conclusion:  The findings showed that the feet grew and developed the most rapidly up newborn to 2 years of age.  Rapid progression of MLA and LLA development was observed between 3 and 7 years of age. There was relative constant of MLA and LLA between 7 and 12 years of age. Compared with Jose .B. reports, the frequency of low-arched foot was more obvious in Chinese children than in white ones. High-arched foot form latter, rate of which was low.

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