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Equations of Parker et al for Predicting Body Height in Adults from Arm Span, Age and Gender

Purpose: To estimate height in an adult based on arm span, age, race and gender using the equations of Parker et al.

Description

Parker et al developed equations for predicting body height in adults from arm span and other parameters. This can help estimate height for a person with scoliosis, amputation or other disorder that makes direct measurement of standing height difficult or unreliable. The authors are from  Walter Reed and Madigan Army Centers.


Patient selection: adults from 20 to 89 years of age

 

Exclusion: A patient with deformities of the upper extremity, inability to get full arm extension,  or severe disproportions.

 

Parameters:

(1) arm span in cm (based on lateral abduction of arms at 90° to trunk with fingers outstretched, from tip of middle finger to tip of middle finger)

(2) age in years

(3) gender

(4) race (Black or White)

 

Parameter

Finding

Points

gender

male

1

 

female

2

race

Black

2

 

White

1

 

general equation for height in cm =

= 67.9049 + (0.6642 * (arm span in cm)) - (2.816175 * (points for gender)) - (4.0549 * (points for race)) - (0.07089 * (age in years))

 

height for black males =

=  60.1273 + (0.65336 * (arm span in cm)) - (0.08399 * (age in years))

 

height for white males =

= 68.7363 + (0.63008 * (arm span in cm)) - (0.10190 * (age in years))

 

height for black females =

= 59.0745 + (0.61442 * (arm span in cm))

 

height for white females =

= 33.1453 + (0.79499 * (arm span in cm))

 

Limitations:

• The estimates were considered reasonably accurate except at the extremes of stature (very tall or very short).


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Objective

ICD-10