Difference in Shape and Dimensions between Adult and Children Feet Based on 40.000 3D Scans Damir OMRČEN*, Aleš JURCA UCS, Universal Customization System, Vrhnika, Slovenia http://dx.doi.org/10.15221/13.231 Abstract Human foot shape affects the fit of shoe significantly. Some shoes fit better to some types of feet, while other shoes fit better to other types of feet. The paper analyzes human feet from the perspective of shoe fit. We analyzed and compared the width and length of feet as well as the shape of toe area (by classifying feet into Greek, Roman and Egyptian type). We focused to differences between adult and children feet. In the analysis we included a huge number (more than 40.000) of 3D scans of human feet. The 3D scans were obtained in EU project Dorothy, internal foot scanning campaigns and mostly from feet scanners installed round the world. Currently about 170 scanners are installed in retail shops and are available for feet scanning and for recommendation of shoes to end customers. Keywords: foot shape, forefoot, foot types, foot scanning, children, adults 1. Introduction 3D body scanning has become an affordable technology. The use of 3D body scanning has the potential to play an important role in the development of customized products [1,2]., i.e. in design and fabrication of products, that are designed for the individual using their precise anthropometric measurements. The 3D body scanners are also widely used in many anthropometric surveys [3]. In parallel to the 3D body scanners also specially dedicated scanners for precise feet measurement have been developed. A valuable overview of research in foot 3D scanning has been made by Telfer [4]. A quantitative description of foot shape is important for a number of different applications relating from the custom and/or ergonomic design of footwear, recommendation of optimal shoe size and/or style, foot orthotics and insoles, and for research into clinical assessment of foot deformities. Many anthropometric campaigns have been focusing to foot measurement primary with a goal to provide information relevant to shoe designers. A large study of 2867 feet was carried out by Mauch et al [10] who categorized feet into three different types. In a recent study, Mauch et al [11] scanned the feet of almost 3,000 children and identified 5 foot types: flat, robust, slender, short and long. Luo et al [12] used 3D scanning to assess the differences in male and female feet and found that men tend to have longer and wider feet than women, in line with results from previous studies that took manual measurements [13]. Luximon and Goonetilleke [14] have argued that the foot shape can be modeled using just length, width, height and a measure of the curvature of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint in order to negate the use of 3D scanners. This is true only to some extent. Researchers have used 3D foot scanners to investigate the quality of fit between foot and shoe [5,6,8]. Poorly fitting shoes have been linked to falls, and the development of multiple conditions including knee and low back pain, foot ulcerations and foot deformities such as hallux valgus, hammer toes [7]. Proper shoe size of a person is initially derived from basic foot characteristics such as length and width of feet. However, the shape of forefoot and the shape of toe box of shoes play a very important role in shoe fit. Not much research has been done in the evaluation of forefoot and the shape of toes. Some researchers have shown large correlation between shape of toes and foot problems [15]. A study of 1221 male subjects was conducted to determine normative data with respect to forefoot shape and dimension [16]. Here also the comparison of shapes between two races have been indicated. Hawes et al. compared toes lengths and identified two toes patterns (1 st toe longer or 2 nd toe longer) [13]. Foot morphology in the course of a working day has also been evaluated in [13]. Sexual dimorphism of feet were evaluated in [14] and similarly for the purpose of shoe design in [15]. The analysis of toe shape from the perspective of shoe fit must necessary consider also the shape of the shoe (especially the toebox). Therefore, besides a foot scanner a crucial component for fit estimation and recommendation system is a shoe inner dimension measurement system [9]. * damir.omrcen@ucstech.eu; +386 1 750 71 34; www.ucstech.eu Proc. of the 4th International Conference on 3D Body Scanning Technologies, Long Beach CA, USA, 19-20 November 2013 231