Effectiveness of equations for the prediction of stature from foot measurements in the Eastern Slovak population

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONStature is one of the key characteristics for establishing personal identity, particularly in forensic investigations. One of the methods for its estimation is based on a mathematical correlation between foot dimensions and body height.STUDY AIMEDThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various regression equations based on foot measurements for stature estimation in the Eastern Slovak population and to develop new population-specific equations. MATERIALS AND METHODSA total of 200 individuals (100 males and 100 females) aged over 18 years from Eastern Slovakia were analysed. Stature, foot length, and foot breadth were measured using standard anthropometric methods. Six previously published regression equations were tested and compared with newly derived models.RESULTSOur findings confirmed the presence of statistically significant sexual dimorphism in measured foot dimensions. Bilateral asymmetry was confirmed for foot breadth but not for foot length. A strong, positive, statistically significant relationship was found between foot length and stature, particularly in females. The accuracy of stature estimation varied depending on the applied regression approach, while newly developed models demonstrated improved predictive performance.CONCLUSIONFoot dimensions, especially foot length, represent reliable predictors of stature. The results demonstrated that regression equations derived from other populations do not provide uniformly accurate stature estimates, highlighting the need to develop population-specific regression models to ensure reliable forensic stature estimation.