Estimation of Body Height by Measuring Foot Dimensions: A Survey on Iranian Adult People

Background: The estimation of body height by measuring foot dimensions can be very important in especial conditions such as forensic medical issues. In the current study, an effort was made to assess the relationship between height and foot bone parameters in a sample of Iranian adult people. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 healthy medical people (125 male and 125 female) aged 18 to 59 years. Foot parameters including foot length, foot width and size of the toes in both right and left legs were measured by a single measuring tool. Body height of the subjects was also measured in standing erect anatomical position by stadiometer. Results: A strong correlation was found between the length of right foot and body height (r=0.999, p<0.001) as well as between the length of left foot and body height (r=0.996, p<0.001). An adverse association was indicated between body height and the length of the first (r=-0.180, p=0.004) and second (r=-0.155, p=0.014) toes on the right foot. Also, a similar adverse correlation was found between height and the length of the first toe on the left foot (r=-0.186, p=0.003). A Positive relation between height and foot length was significant in both sex, but direct association between foot width and height was significant only in women not in men. The association was significant between height and first toes only in men. Conclusion: By measuring foot length, foot width (in women) and length of the first toe (in men), the estimation of body height can be possible