Correlation between stature and arm span in students of a Medical College at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Stature is an important variable in fixing identity of a person. Measurement of stature is a straight away procedure provided if the entire  skeletal system is intact and healthy. Armspan has been proven to be one of the most reliable predictors since both are strongly  correlated. Armspan is the physical measurement of the lengthfrom one end of an individual's armsto the other when raised parallel to  the ground at shoulder stature at a 90° angle. Such correlation is useful to predict stature in subjects in whom it cannot be reliably  measured due to debility or structural defects. Determination of an individual's stature based on armspan will only ever be an  estimation, as it is not always possible to replace an entity. Like most other anthropometric measurements, stature and armspan  relationship is likely to differ in various ethnic groups. It is therefore important to study this relationship in native populations. The  present study is designed to evaluate the relationship between armspan and stature. This study done on II MBBS students, Rangaraya  Medical College, Kakinada who represent south indian population. Stature was measured with stadiometer and arm span was measure  using acalbtrated steel tape. Stature was found to correlate positively with the arm span and the correlation was statistically significant.  In cases of mass disaters and crimes involving mutilation of the bodies at the level of chest or abdomen, when identification of the  unknown body stump involves estimation of stature, arm span can be considered to estimate the stature.