OBJECTIVE: To quantify the distribution of plantar forces and to measure the foot arch of school children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled school children of the first year from a public elementary school of Guaratinguetá, SP, Brazil. In order to identify the distribution of plantar forces, two platforms of force were used and foot printing in paper was obtained to measure the foot medial arch. The plantar force was compared in medial and lateral sites and in anterior and posterior sites of the feet. The feet were compared regarding the average plantar forces in each sensor. The baropodometric acquisition was performed three times for each sensor in orthostatic position. The average values were compared by Student's t and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: 57 students with mean age of 7.5 years old were enrolled. None of them had any orthopedic or neurological problem. The plantar forces were significantly higher in the medial site of left feet (p=0.003) and in the posterior site of both feet (p<0.001). In the studied population, the following prevalences were found: 59.4% of flatfeet, 32.1% of normal feet and 8.5% of cavus feet. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to quantify the plantar forces, to classify the types of feet and to associate the plantar distribution with the type of foot. There was a relationship between the type of foot and the distribution of the plantar forces.
flatfoot; school health; children; plantar pressure
