ASTM F539-01(2007)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Fitting Athletic Footwear
Standard Practice for Fitting Athletic Footwear
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Improperly fitted footwear can cause discomfort, but more importantly, prolonged use causes disfiguration of the bone structure, bunions, corns, callouses, and finally fatigue, often leading to serious accidents. Footwear performance may also be diminished if improperly fitted.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a practical method for fitting athletic footwear. This practice is applicable to the following general flexible types of footwear: running baseball, basketball, football, and tennis.
1.2 There are as many variations in shoe forms and materials available to users as there are variations in the anatomy of the user's feet. Shoe forms are different due to manufacturer's materials, type of construction, and also the type of activity anticipated in its end use.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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An American National Standard
Designation:F539–01 (Reapproved 2007)
Standard Practice for
Fitting Athletic Footwear
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF539;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Apparatus
1.1 This practice covers a practical method for fitting 4.1 Measuring Device, suitable for performing the mea-
athletic footwear. This practice is applicable to the following surements described in this practice.
generalflexibletypesoffootwear:runningbaseball,basketball,
5. Measurement Procedure
football, and tennis.
1.2 There are as many variations in shoe forms and mate- 5.1 Prepare the measuring device by setting the movable
width bar to its widest position and with the movable ball to
rials available to users as there are variations in the anatomy of
the user’s feet. Shoe forms are different due to manufacturer’s heel length indicator (pointer) slid back, so that the foot can be
easily positioned in the device (Fig. 1).
materials, type of construction, and also the type of activity
anticipated in its end use. 5.2 The subject should be in a standing position during
measurement of the foot with footwear removed from both
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the feet. The subject should wear a sock similar to one that will be
worn while wearing the footwear being fitted.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 5.3 Have the subject place their right heel in the area
marked for the right heel. The person being measured should
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
stand with their weight distributed equally between both feet to
2. Terminology
ensure that the foot has elongated to it’s maximum size. To
2.1 Definitions: ensure the heel is properly located in the back of the heel cup,
2.1.1 end use, n—the use for which the footwear is in- grasp the ankle and device together (Fig. 2).
tended. 5.4 Determination of Toe-to-Heel Length (Toe Length)—
2.1.2 last, n—a block or form shaped like a person’s foot, Take measurement by looking straight down over the end of
used by shoemakers in building or repairing shoes and boots. the toes. Make sure the sock is pulled tightly over the toes
2.1.3 improperly fitted—a term descriptive of footwear that without drawing the toes back. Press the toes down so that they
is either too loose or too tight on the foot for its intended lie flat against the base of the device and read the size of the
purpose or protection thereof. longest toe (not always the first toe). This is the toe-to-heel
2.1.4 subject—person on whom foot measurements are measurement (see Fig. 3).
made. 5.5 Determination of Ball-to-Heel Length (Arch Length)—
Place the thumb over the ball joint of the foot as shown in Fig.
3. Significance and Use
4 and move the pointer so that the inner curved side of the
3.1 Improperly fitted footwear can cause discomfort, but pointer fits around the ball joint of the foot and the two high
more importantly, prolonged use causes disfiguration of the
ribs of the pointer come in contact with the thumb as shown in
bone structure, bunions, corns, callouses, and finally fatigue, Fig. 4. When the pointer is in proper adjustment, the low
often leading to serious accidents. Footwear performance may
middle rib (marked A in Fig. 4) will be touching the bone on
also be diminished if improperly fitted. the side of the foot (marked B in Fig. 4). This may be checked
with the index finger. Read the size indicated by the pointer as
the arch length.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F08.54 on The sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this time
Athletic Footwear. is the Brannock Device Co., 509 East Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13202. If you are
Current edition approved May 1, 2007. Published August 2007. Originally aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM Interna-
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F539 – 01. DOI: tional Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting
10.1520/F0539-01R07. of the responsible technical committee, which you may attend.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F539–01 (2007)
FIG. 1 Measuring Device
FIG. 2 Placement of the Foot in the Measuring Device
5.6 Determination of Measured Foot Length in Terms of wider. If the foot is extremely thin, compress the foot slightly
with the width bar and take the reading while holding the bar
Shoe Size—Compare the arch length with the toe length and fit
as follows: in this position.
5.8 Measurement of the Other Foot—To measure the oppo-
5.6.1 If the arch length and toe length measurements are the
site foot, reverse the device end for end, so that the other foot
same, the reading is the correct shoe size.
is in the correct heel cup. Follow the procedures in 5.5-5.7.
5.6.2 If the arch length and toe length measurements differ,
After both feet have been measured compare the sizes of both
the shoe size should correspond to the larger of the two
feet. It is not uncommon for a person to have feet of different
measurements.
size. In this event fit to the larger of the two feet.
NOTE 1—If the arch length is significantly larger than the toe-to-heel
NOTE 2—Trial Fitting—Due to the differences in manufacturing, styl-
measurement, than a compromise between the two sizes may be needed.
ing, and other factors, the fitter of footwear should be knowledgeable of
5.7 Determination of Width—Determine the width by slid-
shoe styles and the fit characteristics of each type of footwear they are
fitting. It may be necessary to make compensations from the measured
ing the width bar snugly to the edge of the foot, but do not
size to achieve the proper fit. The fitting process should always involve
squeeze the foot. Select the number on the width bar that is the
trial fittings (see Section 7) to ensure the proper size was selected.
same as the length size previously determined. Follow down
this line and observe which width area it lines up with, or
6. Observation and Interpretation of Fitting Problems
comes nearest (see Fig. 5). If it comes between width marks,
6.1 Observe signs in the user’s present worn footwear for
choose the wider width for a thick foot, or the narrower width
specific problems illustrated in 6.2-6.6.
for a thin foot. If the foot is extremely fleshy or has a very high
instep, it may be necessary to fit the foot to an additional width 6.2 Observation of Sweat Lines:
...
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