Reminescences
A Case Study of Chinese Bound Feet: Application of Footprint Analysis
Uwe Reischl
Vidja Nandikolla
Conrad Colby
Budimir Mijović
Hsian-Chuen Wei
Abstract
Foot print patterns of the bound feet of a 90-year-old Chinese female were made to obtain insight into the ergonomic
consequences of a Chinese custom that caused significant disabilities for many women throughout history. Pressure patterns
were evaluated using the techniques applied to standard thumb print analsyis. A digital summary of the pressure
patterns were compared to the patterns obtained from a normal subject. The outcomes indicated that the bound foot produced
greater plantar tissue pressures than the non-bound foot. These observations help explain the discomfort, gait abnormalities,
and disabilities exhibited by many older women with bound feet living in China today. Although foot-binding
is no longer practiced, this study offers an ergonomic perspective on a custom practiced in China for centuries.
Keywords
chinese bound feet; foot prints; pressure analysis; ergonomics; history
Hrčak ID:
27219
URI
Publication date:
7.7.2008.
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