Forensic Podiatry Principles and Human Identification

DiMaggio, John A.; Vernon, Wesley

doi:10.1007/978-1-61737-976-5_2

Cited by 25 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The assumption that footprint depth correlates closely with the distribution of pressure dynamically applied by the trackmaker's foot during print formation is the fundamental basis on which use of footprints in studies of forensics [6][7] and evolutionary biomechanics [1][2][3][4]9,19] can be justified. However, results from our modelling and experimental approaches suggest that a degree of caution should be exercised when applying this paradigm to human (or hominin) footprints, and by extension, to those of other extant and extinct tetrapods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does footprint depth correlate with foot motion and pressure?

Bates

Savage

Pataky

et al. 2013

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Footprints are the most direct source of evidence about locomotor biomechanics in extinct vertebrates. One of the principal suppositions underpinning biomechanical inferences is that footprint geometry correlates with dynamic foot pressure, which, in turn, is linked with overall limb motion of the trackmaker. In this study, we perform the first quantitative test of this longstanding assumption, using topological statistical analysis of plantar pressures and experimental and computer-simulated footprints. In computer-simulated footprints, the relative distribution of depth differed from the distribution of both peak and pressure impulse in all simulations. Analysis of footprint samples with common loading inputs and similar depths reveals that only shallow footprints lack significant topological differences between depth and pressure distributions. Topological comparison of plantar pressures and experimental beach footprints demonstrates that geometry is highly dependent on overall print depth; deeper footprints are characterized by greater relative forefoot, and particularly toe, depth than shallow footprints. The highlighted difference between 'shallow' and 'deep' footprints clearly emphasizes the need to understand variation in foot mechanics across different degrees of substrate compliance. Overall, our results indicate that extreme caution is required when applying the 'depth equals pressure' paradigm to hominin footprints, and by extension, those of other extant and extinct tetrapods.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does footprint depth correlate with foot motion and pressure?

Bates

Savage

Pataky

et al. 2013

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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show abstract

“…Various measuring techniques and approaches have been devised by the researchers in the past. Gunn devised a method in which six lines were drawn as linear measurements, five linear measurements were taken from the tips of each of the five toes to the rearmost part of the heel of the footprint and the sixth measurement was taken as the distance across the widest part of the ball of the foot [2]. Additional measurements can also be taken using this method depending upon the footprint evidence keeping any of the morphological landmarks as reference points.…”

Section: Methods For Footprint Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forensic podiatry is a relatively new sub-discipline of Forensic Sciences concerned with the collection and examination of pedal evidence generally encountered at crime scenes. It is defined as ''the application of sound and researched podiatric knowledge and experience in forensic investigations, to show the association of an individual with a scene of crime, or to answer any other legal question concerned with the foot or footwear that requires knowledge of the functioning foot'' [1,2]. This subdiscipline has emerged from the experience and practice of podiatry or podiatric medicine which is a branch of medicine devoted to the study of diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of forensic podiatry—A novel sub-discipline of forensic sciences

Krishan¹,

Kanchan²,

DiMaggio³

2015

Forensic Science International

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“…These impressions available on the insoles of the footwear can be matched with the footprints available at the crime scenes. These patterns found on the insoles of the footwear are also individualistic to a person who wore this footwear [8]. The findings of research on plantar pressure distribution may be helpful in understanding the pattern on the insole of the footwear, and also supportive in interpreting the body size of the holder of the footwear.…”

mentioning

confidence: 85%

Foot Pressure Distribution Variation in Pre-obese, Obese and Non-obese Individuals – Forensic Implications

Krishan

Kanchan²

2015

TOOBESJ

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Abstract:The present commentary refers to recent research on the plantar pressure distribution variation in pre-obese, obese and non-obese adult individuals. While the studies observe significant changes in the contact area in the mid foot region i.e. instep region, no statistically significant differences were observed in the pressure distribution of the fore-foot and hind-foot region among the pre-obese and non-obese groups. Thus, the pressure distribution of the sole of the individuals depends upon the body weight of the individuals. In this commentary, we emphasize that the results of these studies; besides their clinical implications, have applications in forensic sciences especially in the field of forensic podiatry too which is concerned with the examination of pedal evidence recovered at the crime scene.Keywords: Plantar pressure distribution, Forensic podiatry, Personal identification. COMMENTARYPlantar pressure distribution is likely to provide useful information in clinical as well as forensic practice. This commentary refers a recent research on the plantar pressure distribution in pre-obese, obese and non-obese adult individuals [1][2][3][4]. While these studies observe significant changes in the contact area in the mid foot region i.e. instep region, no statistically significant differences were observed in the pressure distribution of the fore-foot and hind-foot region among the pre-obese and non-obese groups. In a study conducted by Cousins et al. [5], the foot patterns show significantly greater loading at the midfoot and 2nd-5th metatarsals in children. Arnold et al. [6] also conducted a similar study where impact of increasing body mass has been investigated under four different loading conditions i.e. 0, 5, 10, and 15 kg. They observed statistically significant increases in peak pressure between the 10 and 15 kg load conditions compared to the control (0 kg) within the heel and second to fifth metatarsal regions. It can be well interpreted from the above mentioned studies that the obese individuals showed flatter foot pattern, larger foot axis angle and differences on dynamic plantar pressures compared to the non-obese individuals (Fig. 1). In other words, in case of pre-obese and obese individuals, the instep region is more impressed than those of the non-obese individuals. Thus, the pressure distribution of the sole of the individuals depends upon the body weight of the individuals.The results of these studies; besides their clinical implications, have applications in forensic sciences *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh, India; Tel: +919876048205; E-mail: gargkk@yahoo.com especially in the field of forensic podiatry which deals with the examination of pedal evidence recovered at the crime scene. Various kinds of bare foot impressions are often recovered at the crime scenes. These impressions are inadvertently left in the blood, water, mud, and freshly made floors etc. The results of the study can be of signific...

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Forensic Podiatry Principles and Human Identification

Cited by 25 publications

References 3 publications

Does footprint depth correlate with foot motion and pressure?

Does footprint depth correlate with foot motion and pressure?

Emergence of forensic podiatry—A novel sub-discipline of forensic sciences

Foot Pressure Distribution Variation in Pre-obese, Obese and Non-obese Individuals – Forensic Implications

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