Segmental Measures

Knee Height

Knee height can be used to estimate stature in someone with contractures who is unable to straighten out. The subject may be either lying supine on a table or sitting upright. Socks and shoes should be removed. Pants should be removed or rolled up past the knee. The subject's knee and ankle should both be at a ninety degree angles. A caliper is used for this measurement. One end of the caliper is placed under the heel of the foot right under the malleolus, and the other blade of the caliper is placed on the anterior surface of the thigh approximately above the head of the fibula. This will usually be one or one and one half inches behind the proximal edge of the patella. Slight pressure should be applied for an accurate measurement, and the shaft of the caliper should be aligned with the long axis of the leg. The measurement is then read and recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm.

 

Tibial Length

Tibial length should not be measured on subjects younger than three years. If one of the subject's legs is longer than the other, the longest leg should be measured. Tibial length is measured from the medial joint line of the knee to the distal edge of the medial malleolus. Pants should either be rolled up or removed. The subject should be sitting with the leg to be measured crossed over the other leg. The measurer should locate and mark the two important landmarks on the subject. First, the medial epicondyle of the femur should be found and a mark made on the subject's skin at the medial facet of the femorotibial joint space. Second, the distal tip of the malleolus should be found and marked. The measurer should sit or squat next to the leg to obtain an accurate measurement. The arms or blades of the anthropometer are placed on both landmarks, and a measurement is read. The shaft of the anthropometer should be parallel to the axis of the leg. This measurement can also be taken with a flexible measuring tape in which the zero end is placed on the malleolus landmark and the measurement value is read on the proximal tibial border. The measurement is taken to the nearest 0.1 cm.

Upper Arm Length

Upper arm length is the distance from the acromion process to the tip of the head of the radius. The subject needs to be either sitting or standing with the left side of their body closest to the measurer. Sleeves should be rolled onto the shoulder or shirts should be removed to expose the arm. The left arm should be relaxed with the elbow bent to a ninety degree angle. First the measurer should locate the acromion process and make a mark on the subject's skin approximate to the tip of the acromion process. Next, the measurer should locate the lateral humeral epicondyle and make a small mark at its border. An anthropometer should be used to make this measurement, but with younger kids it may be necessary to use something less threatening, such as a fiberglass measuring tape. Be aware that fiberglass measuring tape is only accurate if it can be used without laying on the subject's skin. One blade of the anthropometer should rest on the acromion mark, while the other blade should be placed upon the radial landmark. The blade on the elbow should be pushed on slightly so that it is pushed against the end of the humerus for a more accurate measurement. The measurement is then read to the nearest 0.1 cm and recorded. To aid in further measurements, the midpoint of the upper arm should be located during this measurement and marked.