1. A case study of Chinese bound feet: application of footprint analysis.
- Author
-
Reischl U, Nandikolla V, Colby C, Mijović B, and Wei HC
- Subjects
- Aged, 80 and over, China, Female, Foot Deformities, Acquired etiology, Foot Deformities, Acquired pathology, Humans, Middle Aged, Pressure, Culture, Foot physiopathology, Foot Deformities, Acquired physiopathology, Weight-Bearing
- Abstract
Foot print patterns of the bound feet of a 90-year-old Chinese female were made to obtain insight into the ergonomic consequences of a Chinese custom that caused significant disabilities for many women throughout history. Pressure patterns were evaluated using the techniques applied to standard thumb print analsyis. A digital summary of the pressure patterns were compared to the patterns obtained from a normal subject. The outcomes indicated that the bound foot produced greater plantar tissue pressures than the non-bound foot. These observations help explain the discomfort, gait abnormalities, and disabilities exhibited by many older women with bound feet living in China today. Although foot-binding is no longer practiced, this study offers an ergonomic perspective on a custom practiced in China for centuries.
- Published
- 2008