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PubMedDate not supplied

[Malnutrition prevalence in patients admitted to a rehabilitation and orthopedic surgery hospital].

OBJECTIVE: Different studies show the scarce attention granted to the nutritional state in historical and clinical practice, what determines the ignorance of the patient's nutritional status to their entrance in the hospital and, therefore, the impossibility to prevent the hospital malnutrition. The objective of our study has been to determine the prevalence of patients' malnutrition entered in a Hospital of Orthopedic surgery and Rehabilitation. METHODS: Observational and analytical study in 250 randomized patients (60% men and 40% women), who were nutritionally evaluated when entering, the hospital, by means of anthropometry (Weigh, height, BMI, skin-fold, corporal circumferences) and biochemical tests (Albumin, Prealbumin and Transferrin). RESULTS: According to the BMI the prevalence of malnutrition was of 8%, the average of caloric malnutrition was of 2.8% (according to anthropometry) and the prevalence of many-sided malnutrition rises to 54.8% (according to biochemical markers). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of fundamental malnutrition (54.8%) demonstrated in this study, it shows the importance of determining the nutritional status when entering the hospital, particularly surgical type' patiens as is the case of most of those who enter the Orthopedic surgery hospitals.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nutritional implications on treatment and recovery of adult patients with chronic diarrhea].

The nutritional assessment by 24 hour-dietary recall, anthropometry and blood-components measurements was undertaken in 23 adult patients, 17 males and 6 females suffering of chronic diarrhea from pancreatitis (30%), inflammatory bowel disease (22%), short intestine syndrome (9%) and unknown diarrhea (35%). The nutritional assessment was done at the entry and repeated at the discharge of the hospitalization that averaged 35 days, during which the patients received specific medical treatment along with obstipating diets. The hospitalization resulted in overall improvement of the patients either clinically by reducing their defecation rate or nutritionally by increasing their protein-energy intake and the values of anthropometry and blood components (albumin, free-tryptophan and lymphocytes). When the patients where divided into two groups based on their fecal-fat output one could note the better nutritional response of the group showing steatorrhea than the non-steatorrhea group, with the serum albumin and the arm-muscle circumference being discriminatory between groups. However even in the better recovered patients the indicative values of a satisfactory nutritional status were not accomplished. Thus, these data suggest that besides the overall nutritional improvement seen in the studied chronic diarrhea patients the full-nutrition recovering would demand either or both a longer hospitalization and/or an early-aggressive nutritional support.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effects of simultaneous training for strength and endurance on upper and lower body strength and running performance.

This study examined simultaneous training for strength and endurance during a 13-week, 3-day a week program of hydraulic resistive circuit training and running. Eighteen college males (U.S. Army ROTC) were placed into low resistance (LR; n = 10) or high resistance (HR; n = 8) groups, and 10 college males were controls and did not train. There were 20 exercise stations (7 upper and lower body, and 6 supplementary). LR and HR performed 2 circuits with a work/rest ratio of 20 to 40 s during the 40 min workout. LR trained at two low resistances (approximately 100 cm.s-1), while HR trained at a higher resistance (approximately 50 cm.s-1). Following the workout, subjects ran 2 miles. Pre and post tests included strength, physical fitness, and anthropometry. Strength was assessed with (1) hydraulic resistance dynamometry for 4 exercises at 2 speeds using a computerized dynamometer (Hydra-Fitness, Belton, TX); (2) isokinetic and isotonic upright squat and supine bench press using the Ariel Exerciser (Trabuco Canyon, CA); (3) concentric and eccentric arm flexion/extension at 60 and 120 degrees.s-1 on the Biodex dynamometer (Shirley, NY), and (4) 1-RM free weight concentric and eccentric arm flexion and extension. The fitness tests included 2-mile run, sit-ups, and push-ups. Anthropometry included 3 fatfolds, 6 girths, and arm and leg volume. There were no significant changes in body composition or interactions between the fitness test measures and the 2 training groups (p greater than 0.05). Improvements averaged 15% (run time), 30% (push-ups), and 19% (sit-ups; p less than 0.05). Significant improvements also occurred in 3 of 8 measures for hydraulic testing (overall change 8.8%), in 3 of 4 1-RM tests (9.4%), and in 2 of 8 Biodex tests (6%), but no significant changes for isokinetic and isotonic squat and bench press (1.9%). The change in overall strength averaged 6.5% compared to 16% in a prior study that used hydraulic resistive training without concomitant running. We conclude that gains in strength were somewhat compromised by the simultaneous run training, and that improvements in strength and run performance were independent of LR and HR training intensity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effect of intravenous supplementation of a new essential amino acid formulation in hemodialysis patients.

Protein energy undernutrition (PEU) and abnormalities of amino acid (AA) metabolism are common in maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHP). A new EAA formulation (BS695), enriched with valine and threonine, containing some histidine, and low in phenylalanine and methionine was recently developed. We randomly supplemented 11 MHP with this solution (treated group, TG) and 10 MHP with a standard AA solution containing both essential and non-essential AA (control group, CG). Both groups received 3.65 g of nitrogen, i.v. three times per week during hemodialysis for six months. During treatment, dietary intake remained stable in both groups. Before treatment, after three and six months of treatment, and six months after the end of treatment, we determined routine blood chemistries, anthropometry, serum protein levels (albumin, transferrin), delayed cutaneous sensitivity (Multi-test), protein catabolic rate (PCR), plasma AA content and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV). Before treatment PEU, predominantly of marasmic type, was common. After treatment anthropometry and immune response were unchanged in both groups; PCR increased more in CG than in TG; serum albumin levels decreased significantly only in CG; MNCV improved in TG and worsened in CG. These preliminary results suggest that this new EAA formulation may have beneficial effects on some nutrition related abnormalities of MHP. Better results might occur with long-term AA supplementation, particularly if it is associated with a higher energy intake.

Amino Acids, Essential↗
PubMed1988

The National WIC Evaluation: evaluation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. I. Background and introduction.

The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) aims to improve the nutrition and health of low-income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and preschool children with supplemental food, nutrition education, and coordination of health care. Started in 1972, it recently served greater than 3.4 million persons monthly and at a cost of $1.66 billion annually. The National WIC Evaluation (NWE) consisted of four studies: The historical study estimated changes in birth outcome attributable to WIC from 1972 to 1980 in 19 states and the District of Columbia from WIC program data and vital statistics. The longitudinal study of pregnant women compared dietary intake, weight gain, anthropometry, duration of gestation, birth weight, and infant length and head circumference between a representative national sample of WIC participants and economically comparable women. The cross-sectional study of preschool children related WIC to dietary intake, anthropometry, and psychological development. The food expenditures study estimated the impact of WIC on family grocery and other food expenditures.

Child Welfare↗
PubMed1978

Prediction of head/neck dynamic response of selected military subjects to -Gx acceleration.

Eighteen young male subjects with NAMRL sled test experience to 15 G in --Gx acceleration were measured for physical characteristics of the head and neck and general body anthropometry. Measurements taken include head/neck range of motion, neck muscle stretch reflex time, neck muscle isometric strength capabilities, and seated and standard anthropometry. Data from these tests were tabulated and five subjects whose physical characteristics were most similar were selected for use in simulations. Experimental data from NAMRL sled tests were obtained for the five subjects in 6- and 15-G test runs. Measurements data from the five subjects were used to establish a data set for the MVMA-2D Crash Victim Simulator and acceleration profiles for 6- and 15-G sled runs were used as input to the model. Simulation results for head angular acceleration, head angular velocity, head angular position, head resultant acceleration, and T1 resultant acceleration were compared with the averaged experimental curves for the five subjects. In general, excellent agreement between simulation and experimental results was obtained although some consistent differences were noted. Effects of varying levels of muscle activation were investigated. Variations in muscle tension level were found to have significant effects on simulation results at both 6 and 15, G, especially on head angular position. The effects were noticeably greater at lower acceleration's, however. The model was also used to investigate some of the biomechanical mechanisms behind observed response characteristics.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1995

Biochemical assessment of nutritional status in pre- and post-natal Turkish women and outcome of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine by biochemical methods the nutritional status of pre- and post-natal Turkish women and its relationship with offspring anthropometry. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: Health centres in Istanbul and Izmit, research department and university hospital laboratories. SUBJECTS: Randomly selected group of women attending health centres at 13-17 weeks gestation (n = 130); same sample of women at 28-32 weeks gestation (n = 88) and 13-17 weeks post-partum (n = 95); offspring at 13-17 weeks post-partum (n = 90). INTERVENTIONS: Blood samples taken from mothers at all three stages and analysed for ferritin, iron, zinc, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, vitamins B2, B6, B12, A, E, beta-carotene and folate levels; questionnaire completed for recording medical and socio-demographic background. Anthropometric measurements taken from mothers and offspring. RESULTS: High percentages of subjects were at risk for deficiencies of vitamin B12 (48.8%) and folate (59.7%) in early pregnancy; ferritin (52.3%), zinc (72.3%), vitamin B2 (38.8%), vitamin B12 (80.9%), and folate (76.4%) during late pregnancy; and ferritin (39.0%), vitamins B2 (43.1%), B6 (36.4%), B12 (60.0%), and folate (73.3%) at the post-partum stage. Bone loss was indicated in 55.0% and 80.0% of the subjects in late pregnancy and post-partum respectively. Haematocrit in later pregnancy correlated strongly with prenatal body fat (P < 0.001). Infant anthropometry at 13-17 weeks post-partum was significantly affected by pre-natal weight gain and a number of maternal blood nutrients in pregnancy and post-partum. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education programmes and enrichment of the staple food with iron, zinc, calcium, and the B vitamins should be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Short-term energy and protein support in mechanically ventilated patients with acute exacerbation of cor pulmonale].

Twenty-one mechanically ventilated patients with acute exacerbation of cor pulmonale had received home made "Nutritient" via nasal gastric tube as energy and protein support for four weeks (energy supplement 37-45 kcal.kg-1.d-1, protein 1.40-1.67 g.kg-1.d-1). Anthropometry, serum albumin, serum prealbumin were measured on the 1st day and at the end of the 1st, 2nd, 4th week of ventilation. The results were compared with those in 15 age-matched ventilated patients who received routine hospital nasal gastric feeding (energy 24-29 kcal.kg-1.d-1, protein: 0.92-1.09 g.kg-1.d-1). All patients were in protein deficient type malnutrition. At the end of the 1st week of ventilation, serum albumin dropped significantly in both groups, resulting in a status of mixed type malnutrition. At the end of the 2nd week, however, serum prealbumin in the experimental group (24.31 +/- 4.80 mg/dl) returned nearly to normal level, being significantly higher than that in the control group (15.10 +/- 3.10 mg/dl, P < 0.01). At the end of the 4th week, both serum albumin (3.90 +/- 0.31 g/dl) and prealbumin (27.33 +/- 3.30 mg/dl) in experimental group returned to normal, being also significantly higher than those in the control group (3.00 +/- 0.23 g/dl, P < 0.05; 17.11 +/- 3.22 mg/dl, P < 0.01). Anthropometry showed no significant change between the two groups during ventilation. It is shown that nasal tube administration of "Nutritient" provides much higher energy and protein as compared with routine nasal feeding, and enables the patient to overcome protein deficiency and to reach positive nitrogen balance earlier.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Nutritional and environmental risk factors for diarrhoeal diseases in Ecuadorian children.

Risk factors associated with diarrhoea, based on the recall of a recent episode were evaluated from a cross-sectional national nutrition and health study in 1,620 Ecuadorian children less than 5 years old. Prevalence of diarrhoea varied with the age of the children; 6- to 23-months-old children showed the highest prevalence. In this age range the prevalence of diarrhoea was significantly associated with hygienic factors (quality of drinking water, sanitation and refuse system), but not with demographic factors (sex, altitude, population density, family size). The nutritional status of the children was determined by anthropometry and blood chemistry. After stratification for sanitation levels, a low weight-for-age Z-score and low serum retinol and zinc concentrations showed a statistically significant (p < or = 0.06) association with diarrhoea prevalence only in children living under better hygienic conditions. Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between both sanitation levels and nutritional level as defined by anthropometry, but not by blood chemistry, and diarrhoea prevalence.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of bioelectric impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for monitoring the nutritional status of dialysis patients.

Despite recent technological advances, inadequate nutrition has been clearly identified as a significant risk factor to survival of patients undergoing chronic maintenance dialysis therapy. Although body density by underwater weight and residual lung volume, total body water by isotope dilution, bone mineral content, and total body potassium measurements will provide a very accurate multicompartmental analysis of body composition, they are not applicable to routine clinical or field work. Because of availability and simplicity, in addition to anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry have received the most attention from the renal community. Several studies have validated the use of total body water by BEI as a surrogate for isotope dilution methods in dialysis patients, whereas others have established an excellent correlation with the volume of distribution of urea as measured by urea kinetic volume. Bioimpedance analysis has been extensively validated in stable healthy populations for measurement of lean body mass. Results are similar to those obtained with hydrodensitometry and total body potassium. Several studies in dialysis patients have compared lean body mass measurements by BEI and DEXA. Although the number of patients studied is relatively small, there is a high degree of correlation and concordance between the two methods. Nevertheless, selective equations for specific patient populations may be required with both methodologies for individual clinical applications. Longitudinal follow-up of body composition using BEI and DEXA in dialysis patients is contingent on a stable hydration status and/or accurate estimation of extracellular volume status for appropriate corrections. Consistency of technique and standardization of BEI and DEXA equipment is essential for reproducibility of results. Equations used in calculations must be age, sex, race, body habitus, and population specific whenever possible. Multiple compartment models including BEI, DEXA and isotopic dilution provide the best current "gold standard" for body composition analysis. BEI methodology is a practical bedside tool for assessment of total body water, and provides more consistent and reproducible results than anthropometry.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

Physical activity, change in blood pressure and predictors of mortality in older South Africans--a 2-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: A 2-year follow-up study of a cohort of 200 historically disadvantaged older South Africans was conducted to: (i) characterise current levels of habitual physical activity; (ii) relate physical activity to current risk factors for chronic disease; and (iii) identify risk factors associated with 2-year mortality. The baseline sample, drawn in 1993, was found to have a high prevalence of hypertension (71.7%). RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A baseline sample of 200 persons aged > or = 65 years, resident in the Cape Peninsula, was randomly drawn by means of a two-stage cluster design. Baseline measurements included: anthropometry, waist/hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, serum ferritin, haemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose levels, plasma lipid profiles, oral glucose tolerance test and self-reported health status. Subjects were revisited after 2 years, at which time an adapted version of the Yale Physical Activity Survey was administered and measurements of blood pressure and anthropometry were repeated. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Spearman's rank-order correlations were used to describe relationships between various current risk factors and physical activity. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of 2-year mortality from baseline data. RESULTS: At follow-up, 142 of the subjects (66 men, 76 women) were traced and measurements collected. Thirty-two subjects were reported to have died by relatives living in the same household (22 men, 10 women). Levels of reported physical activity in the survivors were two-thirds lower than those reported in a sample of North Americans of similar age. There was an inverse association between age and physical activity (r = -0.31; P < 0.0005) and a positive association between BMI and physical activity (r = 0.29; P < 0.005). There was, however, no association between physical activity and systolic or diastolic blood pressure. In men, BMI in the lower tertile (P = 0.07) and serum ferritin levels were positively associated with increased mortality. Serum albumin levels were protective over the 2-year follow-up period (OR = 0.85; P < 0.05). In women, being diabetic (OR = 4.88; P = 0.06) and having a waist/hip ratio in the upper tertile (OR = 3.26; P = 0.06) were associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity levels in this sample of older historically disadvantaged South Africans were habitually low. Simple anthropometric assessments incorporating weight and waist/hip ratio, together with serum albumin measurements, may be useful to screen general health risk for older adults at primary care level and provide indications for social or medical intervention. Further, strategies for earlier detection and effective management of diabetes, particularly in older women, may reduce premature mortality in this population.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in the post-kidney transplantation body composition: different behavior between men and women].

A kidney transplant often leads to an increase in body weight, with an altered composition of the organism. This study assessed the body composition of a population with kidney transplant and an excess of weight (IMC > 25), using anthropometry, electric bio-impedance, and infrared interactance. The results were compared with the mean values (P50) for the Spanish population, and the differences between men and women were analyzed. The assessment of the body composition using anthropometry resulted in weight percentages, -mid-arm circumference, and -mid-arm muscle circumference of the upper arms, which were slightly higher than the P50, without there being any differences between the two sexes. The triceps fold showed values which were much higher than the average value, and this was more markedly seen in male. All patients showed an android type obesity pattern, and this was greater in men. The electric bio-impedance analysis and the infra-red interactance showed high fat levels for both sexes, without any statistically significant differences with respect to the percentages of fat mass, lean mass and water with both methods. The study has shown that the weight increase as a result of the kidney transplant, is mainly accompanied by an increase in the adipose tissue, and this is more marked in patients of the male sex, in such a way that the typical significant differences between both sexes with respect to the fat mass, commonly seen the general population, disappear.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

Anthropometric profile of a black population of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.

This study describes the anthropometry of an urban black population living in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. A random sample of 986 selected adults aged 15-64 years and 163 children aged three to six years, included data on heights, weights, and mid-upper arm circumferences and calculation of the body mass index (BMI). The mean height of men was 168.3 cm and that of women 158.3 cm. Mean weight, BMI and mid-upper arm circumference for men were 66.2 kg, 23.4 and 28.1 cm and for women 69.8 kg, 27.8 and 30.6 cm respectively. The prevalence of underweight in men (BMI < 20) was 19% and in women (BMI < 19) 3.7%; 22% of the men were overweight (BMI > or = 25) and 7.9% obese (BMI > or = 30), while 36.4% of women were overweight (BMI > or = 24) and 34.4% obese (BMI > or = 30). More than half of the women above the age of 35 years were obese. Anthropometry of the three to six year old children was calculated for stunting, wasting and underweight, expressed in terms of the National Centre for Health Statistics standards, and revealed co-existing evidence of growth retardation and wasting with emergent obesity. These findings suggest that a part of this community, who may have been nutritionally deprived during childhood, has moved from undernutrition to extreme overnutrition without having achieved optimal nutritional status. Complexities that need to be considered when planning strategies to address malnutrition in the black South African population are identified.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Length and weight at birth: the role of maternal nutrition].

OBJECTIVE: To identify determinants of weight (BW) and length at birth (BL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 481 mother-newborn pairs in three Mexico City hospitals. Multiple regression models were developed to identify statistically significant predictors of BW and BL with respect to a predetermined biological model. Independent variables included were: maternal anthropometry, age, smoking habits, and civil status, parental education, obstetric history, hypertension, and neonatal characteristics. RESULTS: In the group with calf circumference (CC), height and head circumference below the median BW was 133, 92 and 96 g lower (+/- 35 standard error -SE-, p < 0.01) than the group above the median, adjusting for socioeconomic, obstetric history, and neonatal characteristics (NC). In the group below the median CC or height, BL was 5.8 or 6.2 mm (+/- 1.9 mm SE, p < 0.01) respectively, adjusting for obstetric history and NC. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that maternal anthropometry is the most important predictor of birth size and that predictors for BW and BL differ.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The action of HIV infection on the height-weight development of children infected postnatally].

The purpose of the recent research was to evaluate the influence of HIV infection on the weight-growth deficiency of nonmaternally infected children. The retrospective and prospective study was done on 141 children who died of AIDS in 1990-1997 (inclusive) in Colentina Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Bucharest. The mean of weight and growth deficiency in the total group was accordingly 50.7% and 20.4% with a statistically significant differences in organized children 54.3% and 21.3% in comparison with those of family 46.4% and 18.5%. The evaluation of the anthropometry data estimates a relationship of middle strength between weight and growth deficiency. The obtained data reveal the importance of nutrition and hygiene care factors in the degree of wasting syndrome and mortality-rate, especially in the first two years of life, and demonstrate the necessity of anthropometry measures of children in AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Risk factors for open-angle glaucoma. The Barbados Eye Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk factors for open-angle glaucoma among black participants in the Barbados Eye Study. DESIGN: Population-based study of demographic, medical, ocular, familial, and other factors possibly related to open-angle glaucoma. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The Barbados Eye Study included 4709 Barbados residents identified by a simple random sample of Barbadian-born citizens, 40 to 84 years of age; participation was 84%. This report is based on the 4314 black participants examined at the study site; 302 (7%) met the Barbados Eye Study criteria for open-angle glaucoma. DATA COLLECTION: A standardized protocol included applanation tonometry, Humphrey perimetry, fundus photography, blood pressure, anthropometry, and an interview. An ophthalmologic examination was performed for participants who met specific criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Open-angle glaucoma was defined by the presence of both characteristic visual field defects and optic disc damage. Association of open-angle glaucoma with specific factors was evaluated in logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Age, male gender, high intraocular pressure, and family history of open-angle glaucoma were major risk factors; the latter association was stronger in men than women. Lean body mass and cataract history were the only other factors related to open-angle glaucoma. Although hypertension and diabetes were common in Barbados Eye Study participants, they were unrelated to the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma. However, associations were found with low diastolic blood pressure-intraocular pressure differences and low systolic and diastolic blood pressure/intraocular pressure ratios. CONCLUSIONS: In the Barbados Eye Study black population, persons most likely to have open-angle glaucoma were older men and had a family history of open-angle glaucoma, high intraocular pressure, lean body mass, and cataract history. These results suggest the importance of possible genetic or familial factors in open-angle glaucoma. The role of vascular risk factors is consistent with our finding of low blood pressure to intraocular pressure relationships, but the results could be explained by the high intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Nutritional assessment of children with short-bowel syndrome receiving home parenteral nutrition.

Serial nutritional assessments using arm anthropometry, computed tomography of the thigh, and serum biochemical indexes during an eight-month period were performed on nine children with short-bowel syndrome receiving home parenteral nutrition. The mean patient age at the beginning of the study was 3.0 years. In anthropometric measurements, the mean body weight of our test population did not deviate from that of the normal population. Most patients were below the normal median for height. The mean midarm muscle area was 114% of the normal median, and the mean midarm fat area was 98% of the normal median. The mean weight and height velocities were 148% and 122% of the standard, respectively. Retinol-binding protein values, albumin levels, and total lymphocyte counts of the patients were low, while levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were slightly elevated. Midarm muscle and fat compartment sizes were highly correlated with thigh muscle and fat compartment sizes, as demonstrated by computed tomography. Our results demonstrate that children with short-bowel syndrome receiving home parenteral nutrition can maintain normal growth characteristics and extremity compartment sizes.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1995

Use of segmental measures to estimate stature in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of stature in children with cerebral palsy is difficult. This study tested the clinical utility of the segmental measures of upper-arm length, tibial length, and knee height as proxies for stature in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: The study included 211 sets of measurements made in 172 children with cerebral palsy attending an outpatient clinic at a pediatric rehabilitation center during a 2-year period. Forty-three percent were female, 20% black, 31% diplegic or hemiplegic, and 52% nonambulatory. An observer measured weight, head circumference, recumbent length or standing height, upper-arm length, tibial length, knee height, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold, and subscapular skinfold. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients were as follows: upper-arm length and stature, .97 (95% confidence interval, .95 to .98) (R2 = .94); tibial length and stature, .97 (95% confidence interval, .96 to .98) (R2 = .94); and knee height and stature, .98 (95% confidence interval, .98 to .99) (R2 = .97). The linear regression equations were used to develop formulas for the estimation of stature from a segmental measure. CONCLUSIONS: Upper-arm length, tibial length, and knee height are all reliable and valid proxies for stature in children with cerebral palsy up to 12 years of age. We recommend that either knee height or tibial length be measured in the routine anthropometry of children with cerebral palsy who cannot be measured by standard techniques. Estimates of stature can then be calculated and plotted on standard growth charts.

Anthropometry↗