Foot Morphology and Indoor Footwear Fit in Six-Year-Old Children from Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The regions of the Visegrad Group (V4) share comparable levels of economic development and broadly similar lifestyle patterns. Nevertheless, they may differ with respect to specific indoor footwear practices (such as fit and duration of use), parental health education, and the availability and selection of children’s footwear. The aim of this study was to evaluate foot morphology and indoor footwear fit among 6-year-old children from selected regional cohorts of V4. Methods: A total of 300 children (150 girls and 150 boys) aged 6, attending preschools in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, were included in the study. Foot morphology was assessed using the CQ-ST podoscope, and footwear fit was evaluated using the Clevermess device. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables, and the Pearson chi-square test for categorical data. Results: Clarke’s angle was higher in Slovak girls than in their Polish (MD range: 9.28–10.92°, 95% CI: 5.45–14.88°) and Czech peers (MD: 6.68–6.92°, 95% CI: 3.31–10.32°), while Polish girls exhibited a higher heel angle than Slovak girls (MD: 1.30–1.60°, 95% CI: 0.18–2.41°). Among boys, Clarke’s angle was lowest in Poland (vs. Slovakia MD: 15.64–16.04°, 95% CI: 11.44–20.35°; vs. Czech Republic MD: 9.64–11.02°, 95% CI: 5.57–15.11°) and higher in Slovak than their Czech peers (right foot MD: 6.00°, 95% CI: 2.19–9.81°). Similar to girls, Polish boys showed a higher γ angle than Slovak boys (MD: 2.16–2.44°, 95% CI: 1.28–3.29°). Conclusions: In this sample, foot morphology and footwear fit variations presented as descriptive trends among boys and girls from specific cohorts in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. These exploratory observations suggest that regional, subgroup-specific characteristics, as well as specific indoor footwear factors (including material and footwear types, current fit, and duration of use), should be considered with caution when promoting proper shoe fitting during early childhood.