Foot Laterality in Children, Adolescents, and Adults

Abstract

This investigation reviewed 14 studies describing the trichotomous distribution of foot preference behaviour spanning early childhood to adult years. Findings suggest that a substantially greater percentage of children are mixed-footed in comparison to older individuals. A significant shift towards right-sidedness appears to occur sometime during late childhood, after which, behaviour remains relatively stable. The incidence of left-footedness is similar across the lifespan. In comparison to handedness, substantially more (about twice as many) young children are mixed-footed compared to mixed-handed. A similar pattern is noted during adolescence and adulthood, but the differences are smaller. Values for leftsidedness (upper and lower limbs) are comparable across the lifespan. Of the existing theoretical models, Annett's Right-shift hypothesis with additional propositions related to environmental influences (Collins, 1977; Porac, 1993; Provins, 1992) provides partial explanation for the findings.