NCJ Number
233536
Journal
Identification Canada Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 4-19
Date Published
March 2010
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effect that shoes have on an individual's barefoot morphology.
Abstract
This study collected weekly impressions from individuals wearing Barefoot Science Insoles , which were to act as a stressor on the foot, to determine whether barefoot morphology can change with time, and if so, what features of the impression can still be used for identification purposes. Friction ridge detail was analyzed in three areas of the foot in the initial (week 0) and final (week 14) impressions. Plantar flexion creases were counted from scanned images of the linked impressions, from which the morphological measurements were also made. The total surface area, or quantity of friction ridge detail observed in the impressions, remained fairly consistent between the initial and final experimental weeks. The number of flexion creases counted from the impressions fluctuated from week to week, with an overall significant increase over time. Finally, none of the measured barefoot morphology features displayed significant differences over time, indicating that the overall morphology remained consistent, despite the stressor. However, there were a few individual whose impressions visibly changed by the end of the experimental period, indicating that, although rare, it is possible for the morphology of a foot to change such that the 'final' impression appears visibly different from the 'initial' impression. It is recommended that, in the absence of significant friction ridge characteristics, barefoot features such as the great toe length, great toe width, and heel width, should be considered in the comparison and evaluation process. Figures and references (Published Abstract)