ASTM F539-01(2017)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Fitting Athletic Footwear
Standard Practice for Fitting Athletic Footwear
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 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.
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F539 − 01 (Reapproved 2017) An American National Standard
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 bone structure, bunions, corns, callouses, and finally fatigue,
often leading to serious accidents. Footwear performance may
1.1 This practice covers a practical method for fitting
also be diminished if improperly fitted.
athletic footwear. This practice is applicable to the following
generalflexibletypesoffootwear:runningbaseball,basketball,
4. Apparatus
football, and tennis.
4.1 Measuring Device, suitableforperformingthemeasure-
1.2 There are as many variations in shoe forms and mate-
ments described in this practice.
rials available to users as there are variations in the anatomy of
the user’s feet. Shoe forms are different due to manufacturer’s
5. Measurement Procedure
materials, type of construction, and also the type of activity
5.1 Prepare the measuring device by setting the movable
anticipated in its end use.
width bar to its widest position and with the movable ball to
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
heel length indicator (pointer) slid back, so that the foot can be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
easily positioned in the device (Fig. 1).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.2 The subject should be in a standing position during
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
measurement of the foot with footwear removed from both
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
feet. The subject should wear a sock similar to one that will be
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
worn while wearing the footwear being fitted.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 5.3 Have the subject place their right heel in the area
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- marked for the right heel. The person being measured should
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical stand with their weight distributed equally between both feet to
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. ensure that the foot has elongated to it’s maximum size. To
ensure the heel is properly located in the back of the heel cup,
2. Terminology
grasp the ankle and device together (Fig. 2).
2.1 Definitions:
5.4 Determination of Toe-to-Heel Length (Toe Length)—
2.1.1 end use, n—theuseforwhichthefootwearisintended.
Take measurement by looking straight down over the end of
2.1.2 last, n—a block or form shaped like a person’s foot, the toes. Make sure the sock is pulled tightly over the toes
without drawing the toes back. Press the toes down so that they
used by shoemakers in building or repairing shoes and boots.
lie flat against the base of the device and read the size of the
2.1.3 improperly fitted—a term descriptive of footwear that
longest toe (not always the first toe). This is the toe-to-heel
is either too loose or too tight on the foot for its intended
measurement (see Fig. 3).
purpose or protection thereof.
5.5 Determination of Ball-to-Heel Length (Arch Length)—
2.1.4 subject—person on whom foot measurements are
Place the thumb over the ball joint of the foot as shown in Fig.
made.
4 and move the pointer so that the inner curved side of the
3. Significance and Use
pointer fits around the ball joint of the foot and the two high
ribs of the pointer come in contact with the thumb as shown in
3.1 Improperly fitted footwear can cause discomfort, but
Fig. 4. When the pointer is in proper adjustment, the low
more importantly, prolonged use causes disfiguration of the
middle rib (marked A in Fig. 4) will be touching the bone on
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of The sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this time
Subcommittee F08.54 on Athletic Footwear. is the Brannock Device Co., 509 East Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13202. If you are
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2017. Published December 2017. Originally aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM Interna-
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as F539 – 01 (2011). tional Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting
DOI: 10.1520/F0539-01R17. 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 (2017)
FIG. 1 Measuring Device
FIG. 2 Placement of the Foot in the Measuring Device
the side of the foot (marked B in Fig. 4). This may be checked for a thin foot. If the foot is extremely fleshy or has a very high
with the index finger. Read the size indicated by the pointer as instep, it may be necessary to fit the foot to an additional width
the arch length. wider. If the foot is extremely thin, compress the foot slightly
with the width bar and take the reading while holding the bar
5.6 Determination of Measured Foot Length in Terms of
in this position.
Shoe Size—Compare the arch length with the toe length and fit
as follows: 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,
measurement, than a compromise between the two sizes may be needed. styling, and other factors, the fitter of footwear should be knowledgeable
of shoe styles and the fit characteristics of each type of footwear they are
5.7 Determination of Width—Determine the width by slid-
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
6. Observation and Interpretation of Fitting Problems
this line and observe which width area it lines up with, or
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
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.