A Smartphone Application Designed To Analyze Foot Deformity: A Descriptive Pilot Research (Correlation Study)

Introduction: An X-ray, CT scan, or foot analysis machines are important diagnostic tools for foot deformity. In the literature, several studies have investigated their effectiveness for correct diagnose. However, these methods cannot be used in a remote manner and patients have to spend considerable amount of time and money to make physical clinical visits.

Objective: We aimed to develop a low-cost, contactless system using the smartphone application to remotely evaluate foot deformity and to investigate the correlation between the smartphone application and pedographic analysis.

Method: 14 individuals (28 feet) with foot deformities were included in this study. We developed a smartphone application called ‘ArdAyak’ to evaluate the foot deformities remotely.  Additionally, we collected pedographic analysis reports of patients by SIDAS custom foot analysis machine in a clinical setting to investigate the correlation with ‘ArdAyak’ application.

Results: According to pedographic analysis, the percentage of 1st degree pes planus was 36, the percentage of pes cavus was found to be 29. Additionally, the Pearson Correlation Coefficient showed moderate correlation between the pedographic analysis and ArdAyak app (r=.468, 95% confidence interval [CI]= (.07-.86), p<0.05).

Conclusion: The smartphone app ‘‘Ardayak’’ may have the potential to be a convenient, easy-to-use, and feasible tool for the assessment of foot deformities.