The significance of flat-foot in childhood and adolescence in Italy has never been studied on a statistically significant sample.

In our survey, thousands of subjects from different regions of northern, central and southern Italy (Calabria, Lazio, Umbria, Lombardia) were studied in order to determine the prevalence of flat-foot and search for possible genetic or environmental factors that may influence the normal development of the longitudinal arch, starting from birth.

Materials and methods: In order to obtain the footprints of children (aged 6–11, attending primary school), we used a polarized light podoscope; we used this instrument, instead of more advanced ones such as baropodometric platforms, because flat-foot diagnosis is basically static and also because the majority of existing studies use the same methodology and have established simple, reliable and reproducible diagnostic criteria, making a more accurate data comparison possible.

Podoscopy was integrated with anamnesis, physical examination and measurement of weight and height. Footprint morphology has been related with variables such as age, sex, geographical area of origin and BMI (Body Mass Index).