The effect of the kindergarten barefoot policy on preschool children’s toes

Abstract

BackgroundThis study compared the effects of barefoot policy, a policy instructing preschool children to go without shoes, on untouched-toes, which do not touch the ground while standing normally, of preschool children attending kindergartens that follow this rule, to preschooler in kindergartens where they must wear shoes, i.e., no-barefoot policy.MethodsThe study used longitudinal data from measurements taken 2 years apart of the amount of times. The subjects were 59 children (34 boys and 25 girls) who went to a kindergarten that followed barefoot policy and 179 children (103 boys and 76 girls) who went to a kindergarten that did not follow barefoot policy. Images were taken of the contact surface area of the soles of the children’s feet by having them stand on the measurement device with their bare feet.ResultsThe number of untouched-toes in children participating in the study was determined from the pictures. In boys who attended kindergartens following barefoot policy, the ratio of the children without untouched-toes significantly increased for 2 years of childhood (35.3–64.7 %). The number of untouched-toes were significantly fewer in boys from kindergartens following barefoot policy than in boys from kindergartens not following the policy, and the magnitude of the difference grew for the two study years (ES: 0.41–0.63). In girls, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the ratio of girls without untouched-toes and the number of untouched-toes.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the ground contact of the toes becomes better for boys in kindergarten with a barefoot policy. The results were inconclusive with regard to girls, and other factors may need to be examined. In the future, it will be necessary to increase the number of the subjects and perform detailed examinations.

Cross-Sectional Study Shows Kindergarten Barefoot Policy Positively Affects Soles’ Contact Area

“…On the other hand, girls' foot angle showed no significant difference. The barefoot policy's effects were found in non-touching toes and anterior−posterior foot pressure ratio only for boys Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Futabayashi, 2016;Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Komura, 2016). In other words, gender differences may exist in effects of barefoot pol-icy.…”

“…Previous studies have reported effects of barefoot policy on "non-touching" toes, those that do not touch the ground during standing, and the anterior-posterior foot pressure ratio Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Futabayashi, 2016;Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Komura, 2016). Research revealed that boys who attended kindergartens following barefoot policy had fewer non-touching toes and lower posterior foot pressure ratio than those who attended kindergartens not following the policy Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Futabayashi, 2016;Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Komura, 2016). Although some effects of barefoot policy have been previously examined, its effects require multilateral examination in order to judge pros and cons comprehensively.…”

“…Possibly children who attend kindergartens with barefoot policy do not tend toward hallux valgus because they play barefoot for a long time and frequently use their toes, which are not compressed by shoes. Highly possible also is that barefoot policy affects the toes' shape because children who attend kindergartens with barefoot policy have fewer non-touching toes Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Komura, 2016). In addition, although a relationship between hallux valgus and flat feet has been reported (Kalen & Brecher, 1988;Nguyen et al, 2010), few studies have investigated this relationship in children and the effect of barefoot policy on the relationship.…”

Relation between Anterior-Posterior Foot Pressure Ratio and Kindergartens’ Barefoot Policy

“…Some kindergartens in Japan follow a policy according to which children play barefoot when playing indoors after arriving at their kindergartens. This barefoot policy has been adopted because of the belief that it positively affects children's health and growth by influencing the foot shape (medial longitudinal arch and foot width) and the contact between their toes and the ground (Asami, Ishijima, & Shibukawa, 1990;Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Komura, 2016). However, the actual effects of kindergartens' barefoot policies, beyond their influence on the shape of children's feet and toes, have seldom been examined.…”

“…Children who attend kindergartens following a barefoot policy have fewer untouched toes because they have greater opportunities to move their toes Matsuda, Kasuga, Hanai, Demura, & Komura, 2016). As the anterior foot pressure ratio increases as more toes touch the ground, it is hypothesized that children who attend kindergartens following a barefoot policy have a higher anterior foot pressure ratio and do not tend to have heel load.…”