Analysis of development characteristics of elementary school children's feet using a smartphone-based 3D foot scanning system.

Deformities, such as hallux valgus and flat feet, pose challenges in the context of elementary school children. There is a pressing need for a longitudinal assessment of developmental progress due to substantial individual variations in the characteristics of elementary school children's feet. This study aims to utilize a newly developed 3D foot scanning system to unveil the developmental characteristics of elementary school children's feet. The study design employed a longitudinal tracking approach, focusing on 124 students whose feet were measured at ages 9-10 and 11-12. The study investigates 10 parameters, including foot length, navicular bone height, navicular bone lateral angle, heel width, and toe angle. As participants aged, foot length, foot height, forefoot width, and heel width increased, while navicular bone height decreased. Notably, over the two years from ages 9-10 to 11-12, some children exhibited no increase in foot height or navicular bone height relative to foot length. This suggests a higher risk of foot deformities in approximately 10% of the participants. In conclusion, our developed measurement system proved effective in confirming the foot growth of elementary school children and demonstrated its utility in assessing developmental characteristics, providing valuable insights into potential risks of foot deformities.