Arm span

This article is about the physical measurement. For other uses, see Reach.

Arm span or reach (sometimes referred to as wingspan, or spelled armspan) is the physical measurement of the length from one end of an individual's arms (measured at the fingertips) to the other when raised parallel to the ground at shoulder height at a 90° angle. The arm span measurement is usually very close to the person's height. Age, sex, and ethnicity[1] have to be taken into account to best predict height from arm span.[2] Arm span is sometimes used when a height measurement is needed but the individual cannot stand on a traditional stadiometer or against a wall due to abnormalities of the back or legs, such as scoliosis, osteoporosis, amputations, or those who are confined to a bed or wheelchair. Other, possibly more accurate measuring techniques include knee length or recumbent length when possible.[3]

Because any decrease in height will cause an increase in the ratio of arm span to height, a large span to height ratio may sometimes be an indicator of a health problem that caused a vertical height loss such as postural changes due to ageing or any spinal conditions such as Degenerative Disc Disease.

  1. ^ Reeves SL, Varakamin C, Henry CJ (June 1996). "The relationship between arm-span measurement and height with special reference to gender and ethnicity". European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 50 (6): 398–400. PMID 8793422.
  2. ^ Capderou A, Berkani M, Becquemin MH, Zelter M (January 2011). "Reconsidering the arm span-height relationship in patients referred for spirometry". The European Respiratory Journal. 37 (1): 157–63. doi:10.1183/09031936.00199209. PMID 20530045.
  3. ^ Froehlich-Grobe K, Nary DE, Van Sciver A, Lee J, Little TD (August 2011). "Measuring height without a stadiometer: empirical investigation of four height estimates among wheelchair users". American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 90 (8): 658–66. doi:10.1097/PHM.0b013e31821f6eb2. PMC 3148840. PMID 21681063.