Analysis of limb segments length and body proportion of southern Chinese children and adolescents.

AIM

This cross-sectional study was designed to characterize by age the ratios of limb segments length to height and extremities-trunk ratio and body proportions of southern Chinese children.

METHODS

Data were collected from students (n = 4715) from five school, aged 6-17 years, in the city of Chongqing. Their standing height, sitting height, arm span, forearm length, upper arm length, leg length, lower leg length, and ratios of extremities to trunk length were determined.

RESULTS

Sitting height, forearm length, upper arm length, arm span, and lower leg length were highly correlated with standing height (r > 0.9; P < 0.05). The ratio of extremities to trunk increased till about 13 years of age for both genders.

CONCLUSIONS

The length of extremities and their ratio to sitting height reflect regular changes of growth in Chinese children as their age, and limb segments length is highly correlated with height.