title: Anthropometric characteristics of feet of soldiers in the New Zealand Army.
abstract: Lower limb and lower back injuries are prevalent within the New Zealand (NZ) Army: independently collected data shows these to be most prevalent, with on average 10% of military personnel affected by such an injury at any time. To improve the quality and appropriateness of footwear, it is essential that normative foot anthropometric data is collected from NZ Army personnel. NZ Army personnel (n = 807) were included in this study; data on foot length, circumference, width, and arch heights were collected. It was found that the NZ Army personnel had notable differences in feet anthropometry compared to an exemplary model for the NZ general population, specifically in terms of arch height. It was also found that a substantial proportion (approximately 50%) of personnel tested could not be provided with a boot that fit (mainly Maori and Pacific Island soldiers) because of a limited width range of the currently issued boot.
authors.affiliation: School of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Marian L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Baxter
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009520:New Zealand; D012016:Reference Values; D012775:Shoes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*