Abstract: BACKGROUND: Through the combination of traditional X-ray technology, digital software and anatomy, the visually obtained images of the human foot bones are easy to observe and measure the changes in the bones of the foot. At present, relevant domestic and foreign researches focus on pathological conditions of foot and plantar pressure distribution, and there are few studies on the changes of foot bones under weight-bearing conditions.  
OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in the foot bones in the standing state.
METHODS: Totally 100 healthy young male students were selected. Special software developed by Criminal Investigation Police University of China for footprint measurement was used to measure the characteristics of the foot bones in the X-ray. Data of the human foot bones in normal and weight-bearing states were recorded.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the normal standing state, the weight-bearing state had a significant increase in the foot bone length, width, and the difference in the length of the second and fifth metatarsal bones (P < 0.01). (2) Compared with the normal standing state, the weight-bearing state had no significant effect on the hallux abduction angle, the little toe varus angle, and the length difference between the first and second metatarsals (P > 0.05), with stability. It can be used in medical foot bone and joint measurement research and forensic examination and identification. (3) The change of hallux valgus angle before and after loading was used to distinguish mild hallux valgus patients from healthy people.

Key words: foot bone, hallux valgus angle, X-ray, digital technology, weight bearing standing