The relationship between arm span and stature in nigerian adults

• Published in: Kinesiology (Zagreb, Croatia) Croatia), 2011-06, Vol.43 (1), p.38
• Main Authors: Ter Goon, Daniel, Lamina Toriola, Abel, Musa, Danladi Ibrahim, Akusu, Simon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age groups
• ISSN: 1331-1441; 1848-638X

Studies have shown that the relationship between stature and arm span varies with age and population. Whether this is true for the Nigerian population is not known. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between stature and arm span in Nigerian adults. Standing stature and arm span of 306 (180 men and 126 women) healthy students between 20 and 49 years of age were measured in February 2009. The arm span exceeded stature in all the age groups of both genders. The mean difference between the stature and arm span values for women was 4.4±4.5 cm (t=14.24, p [less than] .001) and for men it was 5.8±6.2 cm (t=12.85, p [less than] .001). Gender difference between stature and arm span measurements was statistically significant (t=9.71, p [less than] .001 and t=10.03, p [less than] .001, respectively). Arm span was a good predictor of stature for men (stature=67.63+.577 (Arm span); r=.77) and women (stature=55.16+.642 (Arm span); r=.72), accounting for 59.3% and 51.8% of variance in the subjects’ stature, respectively. The correlation between arm span and stature (r=.82; p [less than] .01) was high and significant in all the age groups. The findings could be of practical significance in sports, ergonomics, growth and development monitoring, and in physical anthropology.