Evaluation of foot morphology in terms of laterality in elderly women.

Objective: The main study objective was to describe the differences of selected foot morphological parameters in terms of laterality in present elderly women. Methodology: Research group consisted of 310 elderly women attending the University of the Third Age of the Faculty of Physical Culture of the Palacký University in Olomouc. A podograph (Capron Podologie, France) was used to acquire footprints using the plantographic method. Length, width and angle parameters and the Chippaux-Smiřák index were evaluated using the NOHA program to assess the longitudinal foot arch condition. We used basic descriptive statistics to describe acquired measurements. T-test for independent samples was used to determine the differences between the right and left foot. Results: The elderly women had the highest incidence of the normally arched longitudinal foot arch second degree (Right: 51.3%, Left: 57.4%). When evaluating the average values of the Chippaux-Šmiřák index (Right: 35.7% ± 9.8%; Left: 34.1% ± 11.2%), significant differences (p = 0.00054) between the right and left foot were found. The average big toe rightward misalignment was 9.8° ± 8.1° and leftward misalignment was 10.7° ± 8.9°. The average little toe angle misalignment was 17.5° ± 6.8° (R) and 16.9° ± 6.8° (L). Conclusions: More than 80% of elderly women attending U3A had normally arched foot second degree (N2). Statistically significant differences in relation to the laterality were found in the forefoot length, heel angle, foot angle and the Chippaux-Smirak index. The big and little toe misalignment in terms of laterality may be assessed as similar, without any significant differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]