title: Is There a Correlation Between Footstep Length, Lower Extremities, and Stature?
abstract: A probable correlation between stature and footstep length is expected, and consequently, the stature may be estimated from footstep length. The present research was conducted to study the correlation of footstep length with length of the lower extremities and stature. The study participants (n=142) were asked to walk on a paper sheet with inked feet and footstep length was measured. Mean stature and lower limb length were significantly larger in males. Sex differences were not observed in the average footstep length. Average footstep length and lower limb length did not show a significant correlation among the participants. A statistically significant correlation was observed between average footstep length and stature only among females. Our observations suggest that the length of the lower limb may not be a major factor in determining the footstep length of a person and that the forensic utility of stature estimation from footstep length may be limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College (A Constituent College of Manipal University, Manipal), Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: Tanuj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchan
authors.affiliation: Intern, Kasturba Medical College (A Constituent College of Manipal University, Manipal), Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: Shreya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Kewal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krishan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: correlation; footstep length; forensic anthropology; forensic podiatry; forensic science; identification; length of lower extremities; stature