title: A simplified technique for determining foot progression angle in children 4 to 16 years of age.
abstract: Foot progression angle was determined in 400 normal children ranging in age from 4-16 years using a new clinically available assessment technique. Children ages 4-5 were found to have an average out-toeing of 2.8 degrees (1 STD = 6.9 degrees). The average foot progression angle increased with age to 7.3 degrees at age 16 (1 STD = 4.4 degrees). Univariate analysis of these data found that age, tibial alignment, arch index, and the ratio of body weight to body height significantly affected foot progression angle. If, for children 4-16 years of age, two standard deviations from the average of 4.2 degrees out-toeing is taken as a normal range of variance, -8 degrees (in-toeing) to +16.4 degrees (out-toeing) would be acceptable for these ages. The measurement technique is described in detail, and the normative values and age-specific results are reviewed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital/Harvard University, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lösel
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Burgess-Milliron
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Edington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values