Background: Flat foot deformity is frequently encountered in pediatric orthopedic and rehabilitation practices. The effects of footwear on the development of children's feet has been debated for many years and recent work from the developmental and biomechanical literature has challenged long-held views about footwear and the impact on foot development. This narrative review draws upon existing studies from developmental, biomechanical and clinical literature to explore the effects of footwear on the development of the foot. The emerging findings from this support the need for progress in [children's] footwear science and advance understanding of the interaction between the foot and shoe. Ensuring clear and credible messages inform practice requires a progressive evidence base but this remains big issue in children's footwear research. Aim of the study: the present study aimed to investigate and determine the role of footwear as a predictive factor for flatfoot in children of urban and rural communities. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out on 90 Egyptian preschoolers aged 5-7 years to find the role of footwear on flatfeet prediction , at New Cairo Hospital including both sexes data were collected by using foot print analysis using clark’s angle. Results: The mean ± SD Clarke angle of barefoot, closed shoes and sandals & slippers groups were 34.06 ± 4.47, 12.6 ± 3.79 and 26.03 ± 5.09degrees.Therewas a significant difference in Clarke angle between barefoot, closed shoes and sandals & slippers groups (p = 0.0001). The mean difference between barefoot and closed shoes groups was 21.46 degrees. There was a significant increase in Clarke angle of barefoot group compared with closed shoes group (p=0.0001). The mean difference between barefoot and sandals & slippers groups was 8.03 degrees. There was a significant increase in Clarke angle of barefoot group compared with sandals &slippers group (p = 0.0001). The mean difference between closed shoes and sandals & slippers groups was -13.43 degrees. There was a significant decrease in Clarke angle of closed shoes group compared with sandals & slippers group (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: It was demonstrated that positive significant correlation between wearing shoes at early age and the risk factor of flatfoot .As there is a positive obvious correlation between flatfoot and ligamentous laxity.
