Introduction

Height is a very important indicator of body size for use in the clinical setting and also for nutrition and health research (Shahar & Pooy, 2003).  Together with body weight, height is an important parameter used to calculate creatinine height index, basal energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate, vital capacity (lung function) (McPherson, Lancaster & Carroll, 1978), estimation of nutrient requirements (Chumlea, Guo, Wholihan, Cockram, Kuczmarski, & Johnson, 1998) and calculation of body composition (Hurley, Bartlett, Witt, Thomas, Taylor, 1997). Though it is not the job of an Occupational Therapist to determine these vital signs of patient, it is important to consider the aspect of the person’s height when it comes to prescribing walking aids (Sauvage, Myklebust & Crow-Pan, et al, 1999). However, there are difficulties in obtaining an accurate measurement of height in especially in certain groups of subjects – the elderly (Shahar & Pooy, 2003), patient with scoliosis (Zaina, Atanasio & Negrini, 2008), pre-operative supine patients (Coe, Halkes, Houghton & Jefferson, 1999).

Thus our group decided to find out the person's height in relation to 4 times that of the length of the person's elbow to tip of hand. Besides that, we will determine the strength of the relationship and see if we are able to use this relationship for the purpose estimating a person’s height through the measurement of the elbow length.

Image of Vitruvian Man is Leonardo Da Vinci’s reflection on human proportion.

Click to go link

Introduction:

In measurement, body proportions are often used to relate two or more measurements based on the body.

Our group has decided to find out if indeed, this holds true for a person's height in relation to 4 times that of the length of the person's elbow to tip of hand.

Rationale of study:

• To determine if the height of a person correlates to 4 times that of the person's length of elbow to tip of hand
• To prove if Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man [(length of elbow to tip of hand) x 4 = height] is applicable to the present population

Hypothesis:
1. Research Hypothesis

• There is positive correlation between height of a person and 4 times that of the person's length of elbow to tip of hand

2. Null Hypothesis

• There is no positive correlation between height of a person and 4 times that of the person's length of elbow to tip of hand

Variables:

• Independent variable: Height of a person
• Dependent variable: Length of elbow to tip of hand of a person
• Extraneous variable: Gender, age

Conceptualisation:

• Height: The vertical measurement from top of the head to bottom of feet in an upright position
• Length of elbow to tip of hand: The physical measurement of the length of elbow from olecranon to end of middle finger of both left and right side, with each elbow flexed, perpendicular to the ground, wrist and fingers in neutral position, then taking the average to get the value for data collection

Operationalisation:

• Height of a person will be measured using a measuring tape in centimeters
• Length of elbow to tip of hand of a person will be measured using a measuring tape in centimeters

Data Collection

Methodology:

Our group had selected 31 students through accidental sampling during a time period of 4 hours from 11am-3pm outside the lecture theater.

We decided to collect 31 sets of data to allow for any irrelevant or unreliable data.

Why we chose accidental sampling:

• No sampling frame
• Time efficient
• Cost efficient

Measurement tool
1.5 metre plastic tape measure

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Station 1: Height measurement

 

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Station 2: Elbow measurement

We had taken 2 sets of reading (both left and right side) and will be taking the average of the 2 readings for our analysis.



Our record sheet for data collection...


and transferring the data using SPSS!

*click on image to enlarge*

Data Analysis

Variables:

• Height of a person (Scale Data)
• Length of elbow to tip of hand of a person (Scale Data)

Statistical Method

Since both the variables are scale data, we have decided to use the Pearson's r method to compute our results.


Pearson's r
Allows us to know the strength and direction of linear association between two scale variables.


Scatter Plot
We have generated a scatter plot with best fit line based on the data with had collected using SPSS.

We have also generated the Peason's r coefficient using SPSS.

There is a positive, very strong, and significant asociation between a person's height and 4 times the length of elbow to tip of hand. (r=0.810, p<0.05, N=31).



Limitations

• Sampling method is not representative
• Low response rate --> Some respondents were unwilling to have their height taken

Conclusion

We have decided to reject our null hypothesis based on our research and the results obtained.


Research applicability to Occupational Therapy
In the event that a client sustained a fracture or has low level of arousal, the Occupational Therapist can measure the length of elbow to tip of hand to estimate the height of the client. This enables the Occupational Therapist to prescribe an appropriate walking aid (i.e. walking frame, crutches) with the correct dimensions based on the approximate readings from the client's length of elbow to tip of hand.

Literature Review

1) The Vitruvian man's proportions

"... it was made as a study of the proportions of the (male) human body as described in Vitruvius: ... the distance from the elbow to the tip of the hand is a quarter of a man's height"


Source: The Vitruvian man's proportions. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2011, from http://www.davincithevilla.com/vitruvproportions.htm



2) A comparison of three methods for estimating height in the acutely ill elderly population

"Most estimates of nutritional status rely on accurate recording of not only body weight but also height. In many older people it is difficult, if not impossible, to measure standing height accurately because of mobility problems and kyphosis. Measurements of other body segments can be used as an alternative to estimate standing height. These include arm length (Mitchell & Lipschitz, 1982), knee height (Chumlea et al., 1985), armspan (Haboubi et al., 1990; Kwok & Whitelaw, 1991) and demi-span (Bassey, 1986). All these rely on measuring long bones that do not lose length over time in the same way as the spine. The literature shows that these measures are repeatable, reproducible and demonstrate high correlation coefficients with height."

Source: Hickson, M & Frost, G. (2003). A comparison of three methods for estimating height in the acutely ill elderly population. The British Dietetic Association Ltd 2003 J Hum Nutr Dietet, 16, pp. 13–20.

Our Reflection

Chan Jiemin:
Before taking up the module, I always believe I was never born to do numbers. 'I hate numbers and they must have hated me alot', I always tell myself. However, the experience in this module has taught me how to deal with large numbers in a more systematic and analytical way. With the help of SPSS, a lot of complex, manual procedures are being computerized. Now I finally see the beauty of technology and numbers!

In addition, the process of collecting data was truly an ardous one. We thought we had foolproof plans in coming out with the limitations and problems we might encounter during the collection, never did we know that it wouldn't be the case! While our team measured body parts that we have agreed on, we had to keep looking back at our hypothesis and research question to ensure a fair and right data that we are measuring!

Nonetheless, I truly enjoy working with my team. Our no-brainer discussions on the endless possibilities. :)


Ong Li Hui:
Had a fun time completing Statistics project. The data collection skills and techniques that we learnt and refined over this project will be useful for us in the Final Year Project. The data analytical skills we acquired also enabled us to analyze data more effectively. Overall, it was an interesting and enriching experience.


Ong Yu Yuan:
This project has allowed us to apply what had been taught in lectures in a practical and highly relevant way. Although the whole process was long and laborious, the group worked together really well and efficiently! I learnt how to conduct a survey and interpret results in a systematic way, with the help of SPSS, which really sped up the process.


Tang Qian Ci:
I learnt more about the basic concepts and principles of research methodology from this project. I believe that this will help us greatly in conducting meaningful research in the future.  I think the whole process of data collection and analysis was rather tedious but things were so much easier with the use of SPSS. I was truly fascinated by how SPSS works!


Yip Wan Li:
Setting up this blog with my groupmates had been fun! An excuse to take a break from the mundane school work, this project has also widened my knowledge on the use of SPSS which is really convenient and user-friendly to a SPSS newbie like me. Statistic has never been more fun & interesting! :)

References

Chumlea, W.C., Guo, S., Wholihan, K., Cockram, D., Kuczmarski, R. J. & Johnson, C.L. (1998). Stature prediction equations for elderly non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American persons developed from NHANES III data. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 9 (8), 137-142.

Coe, T. R. Halkes, M., Houghton, K. & Jefferson, D. (1999). The accuracy of visual estimation of weight and height in pre-operative supine patients. Anaesthesia, 54 (6), 582-6.

Hickson, M. & Frost, G. (2003). A comparison of three methods for estimating height in the acutely ill elderly population. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics: The Official Journal Of The British Dietetic Association, 16 (1), 13.

Hurley, R.S., Bartlett, B.J., Witt, D.D., Thomas, A. & Taylor, E.Z. (1997). Comparative evaluation of body composition in medically stable elderly. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 9(7), 1105-1109.

McPherson, J. R., Lancaster, D.R. & Carroll, J. C. (1978). Stature change with aging in Black Americans. J Gerontology, 33 (1), 20-25.

Sauvage, B. M., Myklebust, J. Crow-Pan et al. (1999). A clinical trial of strengthening and aerobic exercise to improve gait and balance in elderly male nursing home residents. American Journal of occupational therapy, 71(6), 333-42.

Shahar S; Pooy NS. (2003). Predictive equations for estimation of stature in Malaysian elderly people. Asia Pacific Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 12 (1), 80-4.

Zaina, F., Atanasio, S. & Negrini, S. (2008). Clinical evaluation of scoliosis during growth: description and reliability. Studies In Health Technology And Informatics, 135, 125-38.