Introduction:

Alterations in the plantar footprint in the child are a cause for concern in parents.

Objective:

Determine the frequency of plantar footprint alterations in school children. Determine if there is a relationship between overweight and obesity with the presence of alterations of the plantar footprint.

Material and methods:

Observational, transversal and prospective study. 959 schoolchildren aged six to 13 were evaluated. Weight, size, body mass index for age were recorded. The plantar footprint was cataloged on flat foot and cavus foot using the arch index. For statistical analysis and comparison, the SPSS version 24 program was used with the χ2 and ANOVA tests.

Results:

530 children (55.3%) and 429 girls (44.7%). The median age was 8.97 years. 182 children were found (19%) with alteration of the plantar footprint, 42.3% with flat foot and 57.7% with cavus foot. None of them had foot symptoms. 131 children were overweight and 52 obese, without influencing the presence of any alteration of the plantar footprint (p = 0.20). The flat-foot ratio was higher in men (2.5:1) and standing cavus major in women (1.3:1).

Conclusions:

In our study group we find a higher prevalence of the cavus foot compared to the flat foot. Body weight did not influence plantar footprint alterations.