Foot Morphological Characteristics among Elite Male Kenyan Rugby Union Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Foot morphology refers to structural foot characteristics, including length, width, arch height, and posture, which directly govern biomechanical load distribution and dynamic stability during high-impact sports. Despite its relevance to athletic performance profiling and injury screening, anthropometric foot baselines for elite rugby union players remain heavily limited within African populations and the Kenyan context.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study voluntarily evaluated 846 feet across 423 elite male rugby union league players during the 2025–2026 competitive season. Structural parameters were collected via physical anthropometric screening alongside the standardized revised Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) tool to evaluate multi-position foot alignment.

Findings: The elite cohort demonstrated a mean foot length of 272.32 mm and a mean truncated foot length of 201.71 mm. Functional arch mobility during weight-bearing was observed through a reduction in mean dorsum height from 70.40 mm in the seated position to 66.31 mm in the standing position, with an overall mean navicular drop of 4.10 mm. Normal foot arch types were identified in 59.3% (n = 251) of the participants, while 52.2% (n = 221) exhibited neutral, normal foot alignment.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Elite Kenyan rugby union players possess predominantly normal foot morphological characteristics and structural dimensions that align cleanly with the high physical demands of elite rugby participation. These data establish essential regional anthropometric baselines for sports scientists, physiotherapists, and conditioning coaches to optimize talent profiling, construct field-specific injury prevention screenings, and guide custom athletic footwear development.