本研究目的是比較同樣年齡層但承受不同程度運動活動強度之在學學生是否會影響足弓之生長發育。以258名健康國中、高中與大學學生為受試對象，年齡介於13歲至22歲，區分各級學校學生為體育相關（體育班、體育系）及非體育相關。使用Harris足印測量器（Harris Mat）蒐集受測者足印，以電腦Sigmascan軟體處理足印參數。以足弓指標（arch index, AI）分類足弓，數值小於0.21為高弓足；介於或等於0.21及0.26之間為正常弓足；大於0.26為低弓足。使用雙因子變異數分析的統計方法，分析體育班及非體育班的差異，以及國中、高中及大學學生的學級差異是否影響足弓高度。研究結果顯示：足弓指標會隨著不同年齡層學齡及是否體育班產生不同的值（p＜.05）。在非體育相關組可見隨著年齡增長足弓指標會下降（足弓增高）；國中：0.268±0.051；高中：0.256±0.034；大學：0.242±0.032。而體育相關組足弓指標則在高中組較國中為高，但到了大學組又再度下降；國中：0.268±0.051；高中：0.276±0.044；大學：0.268±0.039。經由結果分析，得到下列五點結論：一、在國中、高中和大學體育和非體育各組學生中，顯示足弓指標都在正常範圍之內。二、體育班及非體育班的變數是造成足弓指標差異的原因。三、國人若使用國外指標則往往會高估扁平足的比率，因此依國內指標較適合。四、足弓在長期高強度的體能活動下可能使得足部肌肉及關節韌帶產生結構改變。五、評估足弓結構不可一概以足弓高低來斷定運動能力及表現，而要觀察實際體能活動是否會受足弓結構不同所影響。

This study was purposed to compare the differences in foot arch development among students of the same school age though different levels of physical activity. Healthy junior high school, senior high school, and college students (N = 258) with ages ranging from 13 to 22 years participated for this experiment. All the subjects were divided into two groups; the athletic class students group and the non-athletic class students group. The Harris Mat footprint measure device was employed to collect the footprints of the subjects. Footprint data were processed with Sigmascan computer software. The arch index (AI) was used to classify foot arches; AI below 0.21 were classified as high arched feet, AI between 0.21 and 0.26 were classified as normal arched feet, and AI above 0.26 were classified as low arched feet (i.e., flat feet). All the data were analyzed via a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare different factors affecting foot arch development. Statistical differences were noted within the senior high school subgroup (p < .05) and the college subgroup (p < .05), between athletic class students and non-athletic class students. A tendency of decreasing AI was presented within non-athletic class students with increased age (junior high school: 0.268 ± 0.051; senior high school: 0.256 ± 0.034; college: 0.242 ± 0.032). For athletic class students, AI was increased from junior high school to senior high school, though later decreased in college (junior high school: 0.268 ± 0.051; senior high school: 0.276 ± 0.044; college: 0.268 ± 0.039). The conclusions of the study were as follows: 1. Arch indices were all within normal limits in all subgroups. 2. Differences between the athletic and the non-athletic students class were the main factor that cause differences in arch index. 3. Taiwanese should use our own arch index classification criteria rather than foreign arch index classification criteria to avoid overestimate of flatfoot rate. 4. Foot arch muscle and joint ligament could have structural change after long period of high intensity physical activity. 5. Evaluation of physical performance should not base only on foot arch height. Instead, we should focus on whether physical performance is really affected by variable foot arch structure or not.