Relationship between Untouched-Toes and Heel Load in Preschool Children

Although the number of children with untouched-toes, which do not touch the floor while standing, is increasing in Japan, the cause of untouched-toes and its effect on the body have been rarely investigated. This study aims to examine the relationship between untouched-toes and heel load in preschool children. The subjects were 691 preschool children aged 4 6 years (328 boys and 363 girls). The contact surface area of the soles of the feet was pictured to evaluate the untouched-toes. The posterior foot pressure ratio in both feet was used to evaluate the heel load. During the entire childhood period, the posterior foot pressure ratio was significantly larger in children with over two untouched-toes than in children without untouched-toes for the left foot, and in children with over two untouched-toes than in children without untouched-toes and with one untouched-toe for the right foot. In addition, this ratio was significantly larger in children aged 4 years than in children aged 6 years for the left foot, and in children aged 4 years than in children aged 5 and 6 years for the right foot. In conclusion, children with over two untouched-toes tend to have greater heel load than children without untouched-toes.