ANTHROPOMETRIC EVALUATION OF BODY COMPOSITION AND FOOT ARCHES OF AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN MEN

Abstract

Full Text

Aim. The aim of this article was to assess racial anthropometric differences of the foot and body composition, and the effect of the later on foot arch considering the male gender in this present research since a similar article which is submitted to be published was focused on the female gender. Material and Methods. A total of 124 feet of young men belonging to the African and European ethnic groups were examined based on foot length (FL), foot width, length of medial longitudinal arch (LMLA), length of lateral longitudinal arch (LLLA), width of anterior transverse arch (WATA), and width of posterior transverse arch (WPTA), shtriter index (SI), and flattening index, (FI) and the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and foot arches were also studied. All the parameters were measured using stadiometer and plantograph except shriter and flattening index were calculated. T-test and Excel were used to statistically analyse the data. Results and Discussion. After T-testing our analysis showed a p-value <0.05 for BMI, height, LMLA, LLLA, WPTA, FI, SI among the two races. Regression analysis between BMI and the following parameters: LMLA, WPTA, SI, and FI, recorded a p-value <0.05 except for LMLA. According to Shtriter Index African men recorded 25% High-Arched foot and 53% Flatfoot whilst European men recorded 50% High-Arched foot and 33% Flat foot. Conclusions. In conclusion, the present study has shown some significant differences in body composition and anthropometric features of foot among men from Europe and Africa origin.