Determining the size of clothing and footwear is based on studies of human body measurements and proportions, i.e. the anthropometric measurements. To ensure that industry can produce clothes and shoes fitting well for the population, the measurements gleaned must be extensive and they have to describe the target group well.

The idea for this thesis came from the Pieni- ja Isokenkäiset ry. association. They requested us to develop a tool which could be used for collecting data on the lower limb measurements of Finns. The aim of the thesis is to come up with a tool with which people could themselves provide reliable measurement data on their lower limbs. This data could then be utilized, e.g. when determining sock and shoe sizes. This thesis makes use of both the qualitative and quantitative research methods. The data was collected in two phases. The research questions used in the development of the tool were: What kind of instructions are needed to ensure that the measuring carried out by people themselves provides exact size data on the lower limbs. To what extent do the measurements taken by the testees differ from those taken by experts?

In none of the measurement points did the average difference in measurement between the testees and the experts exceed two centimetres. In some of the measurement points, isolated average differences between the measurers were rather big. The biggest single measuring error occurred when measuring the circumference of the right heel, 21.6 per cent. The biggest single measuring error related to the left heel circumference was also significant: 17.7 per cent. When measuring body height and circumference of the left metatarsus, it was observed that the testees carrying out the measuring themselves may systematically receive different measuring results when compared to the results received by an expert.

Measurement data collected with the developed tool could be considered rather reliable when considering the average values of larger groups of people or at least indicative, but there is a possibility of a big measuring error with single measure-ments. The tool can be utilized both in the “Kokotalkoot” project carried out by the Pieni- ja Isokenkäiset ry association and when collecting leg measurement data by podiatrists and other health care personnel.