Body height is an important consideration in various circumstances. It can be used as indicators of growth, body size, physical capacity and nutritional status. The length of the particular bone and body parts represents the relationship between body shape and height. After the skeleton formation process is completed, its proportion does not change in line with the ageing process.

However, there are some circumstances in which it is not possible to conduct body height measurement, such as in leg form anomaly or with patients of physical and mental weaknesses, such as patients tied to wheelchairs or confined to bed and those suffering from osteoporosis.

In some instances, victim identification has to be conducted based on their separated body pieces, where the body height must be estimated using other body parameters, such as length of the arm, length of the foot, or length of arm span.

Some researchers have reported the effectiveness of using various body parameters in estimating body height. Thus, someone can be identified based on their body height, and the correlation between their different body parts, such as length of arm span, length of the arm, length of the foot, demi-span and others.

Although some studies have been conducted on Western populations, the available data are very limited in Indonesia, including the limited data from the Mongoloid Javanese ethnicity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find the correlation between arm span and body height and to seek the regression equation of body height estimated based on arm span in Mongoloid Javanese female young adults in Indonesia. This observation will result in a formula of body height calculated based on arm span in Mongoloid Javanese females.

Results

The average body height of Mongoloid Javanese females is 153.6 cm. We found that the average arm span is 154.59 cm. If an accurate measurement of body height cannot be obtained, it can then be calculated by using other substitutes. Length of arm span is mostly used in such cases and is considered the best alternative to determine body height, mainly for seniors, because arm span does not change incredibly as an individual aged.

Arm span is proven to be consistently reliable in estimating body height, although the strength of correlation varies from one population to another. A study of the correlation of arm span and body height conducted among black and white women aged 35-89 years old determined coefficient correlations of 0.852 and 0.903, respectively.

It means it has a strong correlation. In similar research, black people from both sexes in the age group of 22-49 showed a coefficient correlation of 0.87.

Our study found a strong correlation between length of arm span and body height, too (= 0.759), which is nearly the same as found in other research of several different populations. It is similar to the correlation coefficient of Nigerian adult males (=0.77), and for Nigerian adult females (0.72).

In a study of females in Ahmedabad, the results suggest a correlation coefficient of 0.869. The correlation obtained in female students in Uttar Pradesh was 0.783. Although the correlation coefficient obtained varies and is nearly similar, the body height value is different from that of other populations.

The results of this study imply that one’s body height can be estimated by using the length of the arm span. Length of arm span is strongly correlated with the body height in young adults.

This research may be beneficial for certain circumstances, such as in measuring the height of unidentified mutilated individuals. The regression equation is useful for amputated corpses, and victims of mass disasters and terrorism; that sometimes happens in Indonesia.

Author: Myrtati D. Artaria 

Details of this research available at:

http://www.jidmr.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/80_M18_705_Myrtati_D_Artaria_Layout.pdf