The height of an adult can be estimated based on the person's age and knee height. This can be useful if the person has spinal deformities or contractures affecting standing height. It also can simplify measurement of a bedridden or handicapped patient.
Measurement:
(1) The knee and ankle joints should be bent to 90°.
(2) Measure the distance from the bottom of the foot to the anterior of the knee. This measurement need to be taken consistently, since the knee has some length. Based on some trials, the equations appear to use the top of the knee (with knee and ankle at 90°, the distance from the plane of the top of the thigh to the bottom of the foot).
Adult White Males
Han (1996)
height of white males 17-67 years old in cm =
= (2.30 * (knee height in cm)) – (0.063 * (age in years)) + 54.9
Adult White Females
Chumlea (1994)
height of white women 18-60 years old in cm =
= (1.87 * (knee height in cm)) – (0.06 * (age in years)) + 70.25
Chumlea (1992)
height of white women 60 – 80 years old in cm =
= (1.91 * (knee height in cm)) – (0.17 * (age in years)) + 75.0
Han (1996)
height of white females 22-71 years old in cm =
= (1.91 * (knee height in cm)) – (0.098 * (age in years)) + 71.3
Adult Black Females
Chumlea (1994)
height of black women 18-60 years old in cm =
= (1.86 * (knee height in cm)) – (0.06 * (age in years)) + 68.10
Other
Barrocas et al (1995) cite Chumlea (1984) for the 2 following equations. The measurements are supposedly in inches, but the output values are discordant with the equations above. Height in centimeters appears to be the intended input and output. In addition, the age range limits are not given, and the equation for males in the table has a typographical error.
Chumlea (1984)
height in adult white males in cm =
= (2.02 * (knee height)) – (0.04 * (age in years)) + 64.19
Chumlea (1984)
height in adult white females in cm =
= (1.83 * (knee height)) – (0.24 * (age in years)) + 84.88
