The Relationship Between Flat Feet and Body Weight in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Angela M Evans
Primary Institution: University of South Australia
Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between flat foot posture and body weight in children aged 7 to 10 years?
Conclusion
Heavier children tend to have less flat feet, which contradicts previous studies.
Supporting Evidence
- 31 children were identified with flat feet using the FPI-6 method.
- Only 5 of the overweight children also had flat feet.
- The average BMI for the children in this study was 18.3 ± 3.4 kg/m2.
Takeaway
This study found that heavier kids actually have less flat feet, which is surprising because many think being heavy makes flat feet worse.
Methodology
Children were assessed using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and basic anthropometric measures were compared.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the non-standardized assessment methods and demographic limitations.
Limitations
The sample size is relatively small and may not represent the broader population.
Participant Demographics
140 Australian school children aged 7 to 10 years, with 68 males and 72 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.017
Confidence Interval
95% CI -2.653 to -0.268
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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