THE ASSESSMENT OF FOOT DERMATOGLYPHIC DIMENSIONS BETWEEN FOOTBALLERS AND NON-FOOTBALLERS RESIDENT IN YALA LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE.

ABSTRACTDermatoglyphics entails the study of the configurations on the plantar aspect of the feet and the palmar aspect of the hands. This study investigates the differences in foot dermatoglyphic dimensions between footballers and non-footballers resident in Yala LGA Cross River State. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 83 participants (43 male footballers and 40 non-footballers). The Dermatoglyphic features of feet are compared between male footballers and non-footballers within the age range of 18yrs-30yrs. Various morphometric and parameters were considered. The method used in data collection was ink method. The result analyzed, showed high variation and greater number of loops at the right upper quadrant in footballers than non-footballers. Footballers exhibited larger foot length, wider foot, larger number of Total Ridge Count (TCR) and higher loop frequencies than non-footballers. The data obtained was then subjected to statistical analysis using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 25) software to analyze descriptive statistics, student paired test as well Chi-square test. The outcome of descriptive statistics is presented as mean, Standard deviation (SD), Standard error of mean (S.E), Minimum (Min) and Maximum (Max) values respectively. Tests of equality of group means was done to know the reliability of dimensions that can predict foot print pattern, foot length and Total ridge count with a confidence interval of 95%. 8%. Thus, the p-value (2-tailed significance)