Predictive equations and multiplication factors for stature estimation using foot dimensions of an adult Nigerian population

Abstract

Background: The determination of living stature is a key component of personal identification of individuals. In this study, we developed predictive regression models and multiplication factors to reliably estimate living stature from foot length and breadth in adult Nigerian undergraduate students at the University of Lagos. Materials and methods: The study sample comprised 400 subjects (200 males and 200 females) of Nigerian parentage, aged 18-36 years who volunteered and satisfied the inclusion criteria. Following institutional approval, anthropometric measurements of stature, foot length, and foot breadth were taken with a stadiometer, a large sliding caliper and a small sliding vernier caliper respectively according to the protocol recommended by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The data was analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS statistical package version 20. Results: Mean stature values of 176.44 ± 6.47 cm, 164.71 ± 6.70 cm, and 169.80 ± 8.79 cm were recorded for the males, females, and the pooled sample respectively. The mean values of the foot dimensions (right and left) in the males, females, and the pooled sample ranged from 9.49 ± 0.73 to 27.29 ± 1.30 cm. Independent t test exhibited statistically significant gender differences (P < 0.05) for all the parameters except age, with the males having consistently higher values than the females. Paired t test revealed the existence of bilateral asymmetry between right and left foot dimensions, except for the foot length in the males (P < 0.05). Significant positive correlation coefficients of stature with the foot length and breadth dimensions were found to range from 0.344 to 0.832 in the study. The multiplication factors computed for stature prediction from foot length and breadth ranged from 6.465 to 18.301 in the males, females, and the pooled sample. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that stature can be predicted from foot dimensions, with the foot length showing more accuracy and reliability than the foot breadth. The prediction models established from this study will be very useful in disaster victim identification from mutilated human remains in Nigeria.

Estimation of Living Stature from Foot Dimensions in Uturu Indigenes of Abia State, Nigeria

“…There is positive significant correlation between stature, foot length and width in the studied population. Several studies on the estimation of stature using foot measurements have shown the human feet to be reliable estimate of stature in the forensic identification [6], [7], [9], [11], [23], [25], [26]. The application of predictive regression models has been used by anthropologists to accurately predict stature using anthropometric measurements of body parts such as foot length and breadth [9], [12], [26].…”

Prediction of Stature with Regression Equation and Multiplication Factor using Foot Length in Adults: A Comparative Study

“…Many earlier studies investigated with regression equation. 8,18,22,23 and multiplication factor 24 for stature determination from foot length. However, a very few study compared these methods for stature determination especially with foot length.…”

Sexual Dimorphism and Bilateral Asymmetric Variability in Percutaneous Foot Anthropometry of Adolescent Nigerian Schoolchildren in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

“…The patterns of sexual dimorphism and bilateral asymmetry in foot morphology and anthropometry in adult Nigerians have been highlighted and elaborated in [1][2][3] also reviewed current metric approaches to predictive regression in their report on the pattern of variation in foot anthropometry and their correlation with stature in young adult Nigerians while [4] attempted to predict sex from foot anthropometry using the discriminant function analysis model in Nigerian adults. However, available data on foot anthropometry in Nigerian sub-adults (children and adolescents) is sparse.…”

“…In a review of scholarly research from across the globe, [3] observed that in adults, foot length and breadth measurement predicted stature in a rather robust manner. Foot length performed consistently better than foot breadth in this regard, an observation than was corroborated by previous work by [23]and contemporary work by [24] in Indians.…”