Correlation of height with arm span of adult males in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was aimed at ascertaining the existence of a relationship between the standing height of adult males in Jos and his arm span and to derive equations that will be used to predict standing height from arm span measurements and vice versa. With these  equations, adult male height can be predicted in conditions where it cannot be easily measured. This descriptive, cross sectional study  examined the relationship between standing  height measurements and arm span measurements of 226 apparently healthy, randomly  selected, consenting  adult male students who fit the inclusion criteria. Measurements of standing height and their corresponding arm  spans were taken using standardized methods and instruments and data collected was analysed using NCSS/PASS 2006 Dawson Edition,  USA.  Mean age of the subjects was 25± 4 years while mean standing height and mean arm span of males was 172.3±  9.7cm and  186.9 + 9.0cm respectively. Correlation regression analyses done showed that arm span could predict  height in males by 98.7% i.e. R² =  0.987 (P<0.05) and height could predict arm span by 98.7% (R² = 0.987)  using simple linear equations derived