Mobile Apps for Foot Measurement: A Scoping Review

TL;DR

This scoping review evaluates mobile foot measurement apps, revealing most lack proper measurement accuracy and guidelines, with some utilizing advanced technology for potential professional use.

Contribution

The paper systematically assesses the quality and measurement techniques of existing foot measurement apps, highlighting their limitations and potential for future development.

Findings

Most apps fail to meet measurement accuracy criteria.

Some apps use advanced algorithms for 3D foot modeling.

Current apps lack standardized measurement guidelines.

Abstract

With the proliferation of smart phone, a major growth in the use of apps related to the health category, specifically those concerned with foot health can be observed. Although new, these apps are being used practically for scanning feet with an aim to providing accurate information about various properties of the human foot. With the availability of many 'foot scanning and measuring apps' in the app stores, the need for an evaluation system for such apps can be deemed necessary as little information regarding the evidence-based quality of these apps is available. To characterize the assessment of measurement techniques and essential software quality characteristics of mobile foot measuring apps, and determine their effectiveness for potential use as commercial professional tools for foot care health professionals such as pedorthists, podiatrists, orthotists and so on, to assist in measuring foot for custom shoes, and for individuals to enhance the awareness of foot health and hygiene and prevention of foot-related problems. An electronic search across Android and iOS app stores was conducted between July 2020 and August 2020 for apps related to foot measurement. Mobile apps with stated goals of foot measurement and general foot health were identified and selected by three independent raters and discrepancies regarding the selected apps were resolved via a fourth rater. Evaluation inferences found all apps failing to meet even half of the measurement-specific criteria required for the proper manufacturing of custom-made footwear. 23% (6/26) of apps were found to utilize either external scanners or advanced algorithms to reconstruct 3D models of user foot that can possibly be used for ordering custom-made footwear and medical casts for fitting irregular foot sizes and shapes. Overall, current apps for foot measurement do not follow any specific guidelines for measurement purposes.