The aim of the study was to evaluate metatarsal arch of foot by the footprint test in patients with or without foot problems.

History, physical examination, X-ray study and the footprint test were done on 870 feet of 435 patients. The cases fall into 5 groups according to depressed metatarsal atch(or transverse arch) by the footprint test.

We considered normal findings as grade 0. which has two pressure marks under the first and fifth metatarsals or a additional relatively large central mark. Grade Ⅰ has only a large central pressure mark. Grade Ⅱ has a relative small pressure points located under the central metatarsal heads, grade Ⅲ has two central pressure points, and grade Ⅳ has three central pressure points respectively.

1) Depressed metatarsal arches were seen in 644 of 870 feet(74.1%) with grade I in 412 feet (47.4%), grade Ⅱ in 138(15.9%), grade Ⅲ in 80(9.2%), and grade Ⅳ in 14(1.6%)

2) The higher grade of hallux valgus, the move significant in grade of depressed metatarsal arch(p<0.001).

3) The more number of involved toe(p<0.001) and of plantar callus(p<0.001), higher grade of depressed metatarsal arch.

4) According to the type of metatarsal bone by X-ray, mean grades of depressed metatarsal arch were 1.46 in the index minus type(28/110), 1.40 in index plus type(55/110), and 1.07 in index plus minus type(27/110). There was significant difference between mean grade of index minus type and that of index plus minus type(p<0.05).

We concluded that our classification of depressed metatarsal arch by the footprint test will be valuable and useful evaluation method for the patients with foot problem.