Study of Foot Anatomy for Shoe Making for Sudanese in Khartoum State

Abstract

This research was conducted as a trial to get acquainted with the Sudanese foot shape and anatomy as it is necessary in the field of foot wear industry. Besides, the research aims at proposing shoes size and fitting system for Sudanese dwelling in Khartoum state and studying the factors affecting the shape of Sudanese foot. The study was conducted into two parts. The first part was questionnaire investigating a sample of 480 individuals from medical cadres operating in the medical and health institutions in Khartoum state about the most effective factors on the shape of Sudanese feet from Sudanese land vastness, land topography, work, diet and genetic factors. In the second part, foot survey through manual measurement was conducted for sample of 327 individuals as 172 males and 155 females. The sample was distributed into 6 groups to be three for each sex according to their age and their foot length, width, joint, waist, instep , long heel , short heel and ankle girths were measured for each one. The obtained results from the first part were subjected to analysis using The Statistical Package for Social Science application program (SPSS) which showed that the type of work is the most effective factor on the shape of Sudanese feet when it is compared with diet and land topography factors. The topography factor is more effective than diet factor. Whereas the genetic factor is the most effective factor on the shape of Sudanese feet when it is compared with land topography, diet and work factors. Generally, it was found that the genetic and work factors are more effective that the other factors on determination of the Sudanese foot shape. Also, the obtained results from the second part were subjected to analysis using The Statistical Package for Social Science application program (SPSS) determining the common foot measurements for the group 1 of females with age ranging from 6 to 15 years old to be foot length (221.97mm) , width (87.478mm) , joint (204mm) , waist (197.72mm) , instep (207.28mm) , long heel (305.03mm) , short heel (279.03mm) and ankle (228.39mm) girths. And for the group 2 of females with age ranging from 16 to 25 years old to be foot length (242.92mm) , width (85.00mm) , joint (208.99mm) , waist (219.71mm) , instep (207.28mm) , long heel (302.96mm) , short heel (276.30mm) and ankle (246.01mm) girths. And for the group 3 of females with age ranging from 26 to 54 years old to be foot length (256.45mm) , width (97.55mm) , joint (236.29mm) , waist (229.24mm) , instep (241.95mm) , long heel (352.90mm) , short heel (332.26mm) and ankle (268.00mm) girths. For males groups , the analysis determined the common foot measurements for the group 4 of males with age ranging from 5 to 15 years old to be foot length (226.45mm) , width (91.47mm) , joint (212.52 mm) , waist (206.95mm) , instep (218.23mm) , long heel (313.10 mm) , short heel (287.42mm) and ankle (235.57mm) girths. And for the group 5 of males with age ranging from 16 to 25 years old to be foot length (267.66 mm) , width (103.78mm) , joint (242.26mm) , waist (239.19mm) , instep (257.92mm) , long heel (343.88mm) , short heel (318.15mm) and ankle (263mm) girths. And for the group 6 of males with age ranging from 26 to 60 years old to be foot length (270.26mm) , width (107.26mm) , joint (249.42mm) , waist (246.23mm) , instep (255.61mm) , long heel (366.77mm) , short heel (349.29mm) and ankle (272.90mm) girths. These results will surely the base on which the suitable shoe size and fitting system for the six groups to be made. In addition to the above, comparative analysis was conducted for the six groups between the foot length and girths which determine the common measurements for their feet and gave a clear picture for variations of foot sizes and shapes according to sex and age groups.