title: Comparisons of foot anthropometry and plantar arch indices between German and Brazilian children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays, trades and research have become closely related between different countries and anthropometric data are important for the development in global markets. The appropriate use of anthropometry may improve wellbeing, health, comfort and safety especially for footwear design. For children a proper fit of footwear is very important, not constraining foot growth and allowing a normal development. The aim of this study was to compare the anthropometric characteristics of German and Brazilian children's feet from 3 to 10 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared five indirect measures of two databases of children's feet. Forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot widths were measured in static footprints and the Chippaux-Smirak and Staheli indices of the longitudinal arch were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brazilian children showed a significantly narrower forefoot from 5 to 10 years, wider rearfoot from 3 to 4 years, wider midfoot for 4 year-olds and narrower midfoot for 10 year-old children. Nevertheless, the Chippaux-Smirak and Staheli indices showed no group differences. The only exception was for 4 year-old Brazilian children who showed a higher Chippaux-Smirak index compared to German children (48.4 ± 17.7%; 42.1 ± 13.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed anthropometric differences in absolute forefoot and rearfoot widths of German and Brazilian children, but a similar longitudinal arch development. At 4 years of age, Brazilian children present a foot anthropometry similar to the 3 year-olds and develop the plantar longitudinal arch from 4 to 5 years more rapidly when compared to German children.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. icnsacco@usp.br.
authors.forename: Isabel C N
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy Department, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. a.naomi@usp.br.
authors.forename: Andrea N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.affiliation: Gait Lab, Social Pediatric Centre, Children's Clinic, St.-Vincenz-Hospital, Coesfeld, Germany. boschker@web.de.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Movement Analysis Lab, Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine (IEMM), University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. diro@uni-muenster.de.|Funktionsbereich Bewegungsanalytik, Institut für Experimentelle Muskuloskelettale Medizin, Zentrum für Muskuloskelettale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude D 3, D-48149, Münster, Germany. diro@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors