Foot laterality in children, adolescents, and adults

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 left-sidedness (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.