Mobile Apps for Foot Measurement in Pedorthic Practice : Scoping Review
over 2-3 weeks . This scale was then used to produce evaluation scores for the selected foot measurement apps and to assess the interrater reliability .
Results : Evaluation inferences showed that all apps failed to meet even half of the measurement-specific criteria required for the proper manufacturing of custommade footwear . Only 23 % ( 6 / 26 ) of the apps reportedly used external scanners or advanced algorithms to reconstruct 3D models of a user ’ s foot that could possibly be used for ordering custom-made footwear ( shoes , insoles / orthoses ), and medical casts to fit irregular foot sizes and shapes . The apps had varying levels of performance and usability , although the overall measurement functionality was subpar with a mean of 1.93 out of 5 . Apps linked to online shops and stores ( shoe recommendation ) were assessed to be more usable than other apps but lacked some features ( eg , custom shoe sizes and shapes ). Overall , the current apps available for foot measurement do not follow any specific guidelines for measurement purposes .
Conclusions : Most commercial apps currently available in app stores are not viable for use as tools in assisting foot care health professionals or individuals to measure their feet for custom-made footwear . Current apps lack software quality characteristics and need significant improvements to facilitate proper measurement , enhance awareness of foot health , and induce motivation to prevent and cure foot-related problems . Guidelines similar to the essential criteria items introduced in this study need to be developed for future apps aimed at foot measurement for custommade or individually fitted footwear and to create awareness of foot health .
Muhammad Ashad Kabir , BSc , MSc , PhD ; Sheikh Sowmen Rahman , BSc ; Mohammad Mainul Islam , BSc , MSc ; Sayed Ahmed , BSc , MBA , Cped CM Au ; Craig Laird , CPed CM Au
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