Stature and sex estimate using foot and shoe dimensions

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop a formula to estimate the stature and sex of an individual using foot and shoe dimensions. To this aim the stature, right and left shoe sizes, and maximum and minimum feet length and width measurements of a target group of 569 individuals were taken. The group was composed of 294 males and 275 females. The highest correlation coefficient was found in length measurements. A notable difference between males and females existed with regard to both right and left foot and shoe length and width averages and shoe sizes (p < 0.001). Among the group, a significant correlation was found in regard to stature and right shoe length (r = 0.591, p < 0.001), with the correlation between stature and right foot length and stature and right shoe length being 0.579 (p < 0.001); as for the female group, there was a significant correlation between stature and right foot length and stature and right shoe length (r = 0.460, p < 0.001). Thus the regression formula obtained are as follows: for the right side: sex = 69.169 + 0.173 (maximum foot length)  0.368 (maximum foot width)  0.820 (shoe length) + 0.224 (shoe width)  1.280 (shoe number). For the left side: sex = 69.551 + 0.276 (maximum foot length)  0.504 (maximum foot width)  0.739 (shoe length) + 0.344 (shoe width)  1.360 (shoe number). In application of the formula, if sex is lower than 0.50, the shoe belongs to a male, if higher, then to female. The formula which was obtained in regression analysis in order to estimate the stature when the measurements of shoe and foot were known.

For the right side, stature = 47.93 + 1.083 (maximum foot length) + 0.788 (shoe length) 1.813 (shoe number) (SEE:31.410). For the left side: stature = 47.33 + 1.139 (maximum foot length) + 0.593 (shoe length) × 1.924 (shoe number) (SEE:31.607).

It was understood that foot and shoe sizes are a criteria to estimate the stature of a person that there was a strong relationship between foot and shoe length and width and that these can be used to aid estimation. It was found that in sex estimate, foot and shoe lengths are better in helping the estimate than width measurements, and that the use of shoe measurements rather than bare foot measurements are better to obtain meaningful results.

Introduction

In forensic sciences to determine one's sex and to estimate how tall one is quite important during the identity defining stage. The identity of the victim or the suspect that is tried to be defined will be searched in a 50% reduced population within the determination of one's sex. Beside the body appearance, some parts of a skeleton and bones, private/personal clothes and other belongings, and the other numerous data can be made use of to determine one's sex in fatal or harmless incidents [1], [2], [3].

Anatomical and mathematical methods were used with the purpose of estimating how tall the person is that his/her corpse or some parts of his/her corpse found. In this study, it will be researched whether the person is male or female and how tall he/she is by the help of his/her foot and shoe size.

Section snippets

Materials

Harpender anthropometry sets, balance and apparatus to measure stature.

Methods

In this research, randomly, some measurements were done on the orthopedically healthy adult patients who were applied to Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey. The stature, right and left feet and maximum shoe length and width of 294 males and 275 females over 19 years old within the sample group were measured.

Results

The majority of the model groups were from the central Turkey area (27.83%), with the average age of the males as 32.70 ± 12.55, and the females 32.23 ± 12.71 (Table 1).

It was found that a correlation between stature and other variables as regards the sex. Cut-off values were calculated for each sex (Table 2).

The formula which was obtained in regression analysis in order to estimate stature according to sex when measurements of the right and left shoe and foot were known (Table 3).

In terms of sex,

Discussion and conclusion

The foot and shoe measurements and heights from a group of 294 Turkish males and 275 Turkish females, with the majority being from the central Anatolian area (female 49.82% and male 50.17%) were appraised. No significant difference was found in either male or female left and right side measurements.

In all male and female measurement results, a significant difference was reported between the maximum right and left foot and shoe length and width averages in relation to the shoe sizes of male and

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