The Use of Arm Span as a Predictor of Height: A Study of South Indian Women

Abstract

This study was undertaken to find out the relationship between various body parameters to identify the measurement that correlates most closely to stature. Sitting height, standing height, arm span and leg lengths of 505 healthy women between the ages of 20 and 29 were measured. The relationship between the parameters was determined by computing correlation coefficients and 95% confidence intervals. The correlation between sitting height, arm span and leg length were poor (r=0.56 and 0.29 respectively), while the correlation of arm span and leg length with standing height were good (r=0.82 and 0.84 respectively). These estimations can be of use in quantifying the age related loss in stature and in identifying individuals with disproportionate growth abnormalities and skeletal dysplasias. It can also be useful to find out the alterations in the height of an individual that may occur due to progressive deformities of the spine. The adequacy of the correction of spinal deformities may also be facilitated by computing the ratio of arm span to standing height.