Correlation between radiographic morphometry and body surface somatometry for foot arches

Abstract

[Purpose] Foot arches are evaluated using radiographic morphometry and body surface somatometry. While several studies have examined the correlations between these methods and the medial longitudinal arch, very few studies have investigated the same for transverse arches. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between radiographic morphometry and body surface somatometry at medial longitudinal and transverse arches. [Participants and Methods] Fifty healthy adults were included in the study. Six medial longitudinal and three transverse arch evaluation methods were evaluated for the correlation, including the foot posture index. [Results] A correlation was found between the evaluation methods for the medial longitudinal arch, except the lateral talocalcaneal angle; however, no correlation was found between the navicular-metatarsal angle and transverse arch-length ratio in transverse arch evaluation. Additionally, there was no correlation between the evaluation methods for the medial longitudinal and transverse arches. The foot posture index was particularly correlated with radiographic medial longitudinal arch evaluation methods. [Conclusion] During evaluation with radiographic morphometry, it is difficult to set bone markers and differences in tarsal bone arrangement affect the relationship between them; in body surface somatometry, there were differences in measurement at sites with excessive soft tissue. Elucidating the cause for the lack of correlation between the medial longitudinal and transverse arches requires further investigation.