A Cross Sectional Descriptive Study for Estimation of Stature from Foot Length in South Indian Population

Abstract

Identification can be done by a myriad of methods and of them includes the measurement of stature by foot length The Study population includes the faculty and students of a tertiary medical care college and hospital and the residents of a district in South India between the ages group of 21-40 years. 200 members consisting of 100 male and 100 female were chosen by stratified random sampling. The height was measured by using standard height measuring instrument and foot length by a vernier calliper. A highly significant correlation was found between Stature and RFL(r=0.811) with the strength of association being more in males (r=0.677) than females (r=0.592). Ahighly significant correlation was also found between Stature and LFL (r=0.823) with the strength of association again being more in males (r=0.707) than in females (r=0.582). Between the two feet, the stature showed highly significant strong correlation with LFL (r=0.823) 2 when compared to RFL (r=0.811). By comparing the r and r values in different study groups it is seen that pooled sample shows better correlation than individual sex. Regression equations were developed for individual sex and also for the pooled data. Stature showed a highly significant positive correlation with both foot lengths with the RFL exhibiting a slightly stronger association. Regression equation for stature developed in this study with respect to the pooled data exhibited a better goodness of fit for the Left foot length