The influence of foot sizes on human balance

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between foot size and human balance performance. The balance performances of 30 female subjects (15 young, 15 elderly) were assessed by a force platform system. Mean sway velocity, balance strategy score and composite equilibrium score (CES) were used to quantify balance performances from three different aspects. Correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship between foot sizes and human balance measures. The results showed that most foot size measures (with or without normalizations) have significant correlations on mean sway velocity and balance strategy score, but no relationship with CES. In general, the bigger the foot size, the lower mean sway velocity and the bigger the normalized foot size, the higher balance strategy score (more ankle strategy), especially for the young group.