Anthropometric Parameters of the Foot in Schoolchildren Aged 6 to 12 Years in Kano Municipal Local Government Area

Foot anthropometry provides critical data for orthopaedic management, shoe design, and podiatric healthcare. In children, monitoring foot dimensions is essential for detecting flat foot, toe deformities, and growth abnormalities. Despite its clinical relevance, foot anthropometric norms for Nigerian schoolchildren remain largely undocumented, limiting the clinical utility of existing international paediatric orthopaedic reference ranges. This study aims to measure and document anthropometric parameters of the foot, including foot length, breadth, heel width, and arch index, among schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design will be adopted, with systematic random sampling from selected public and private primary schools. Measurements will be taken using a standard anthropometer and a Harris mat for arch impression assessment. Data will be analysed for sex and age differences using appropriate statistical methods. The study anticipates establishing normative foot morphometric ranges for Kano schoolchildren, which will be useful for paediatric physiotherapists, orthopaedic shoe manufacturers, and school health officers. This research addresses a significant data gap in paediatric anatomical morphometry within northern Nigeria and lays the foundation for further longitudinal growth studies.

Keywords: foot anthropometry, schoolchildren, flat foot, morphometry, Kano