Reliability of photographic method and its comparison with foot arch parametric method for assessment of arch width, arch height and arch index

Assessing foot arches is essential for comprehending foot biomechanics, detecting irregularities, and creating suitable footwear. Conventional techniques for assessing foot arch parameters, including arch height, arch width, and arch index, depend on manual footprint analysis, which is susceptible to measurement inaccuracies and variability.  This study sought to analyze the reliability of a photographic technique for evaluating foot arch and to compare it with the traditional parametric method for foot arch assessment.  A total of 108 people aged 18 to 30 years, with a BMI range of 18.5 to 22.9, were evaluated using both methodologies.  The photography technique entailed collecting photos of feet on a transparent footplate including a grid structure, whereas the traditional method employed hand footprint impressions.  Bland-Altman analysis was conducted to evaluate the concordance between the two methodologies.  The results indicated that the photographic method yielded measures closely aligned with those derived from the conventional method, with no statistically significant variations in arch height, arch width, and arch index (p > 0.05).  Moreover, the photographic technique demonstrated efficacy in identifying foot arch anomalies, including pes planus and pes cavus, at early stages with subtle measurement variations.  The photographic method shown benefits including less human error, enhanced accuracy, and user-friendliness.  Moreover, its digital format facilitates efficient data storage and analysis.  The study affirms the reliability of the photographic method; nonetheless, additional research on varied populations is advised to establish its wider application.  The results indicate that this technique is a viable, non-invasive option for evaluating foot arches in clinical and research environments.