RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To identify the relation between height and limb length using anthropometric data in healthy people. METHOD: One hundred and fifty healthy subjects between the age of 7 months and 67 years were subdivided into five groups: group I (age under 5), group II (5~10), group III (11~20), group IV (21~60), and group V (61 or more). Each group included 15 males and 15 females. Upper arm was measured between acromion and olecranon, and forearm was measured between olecranon and thumb tip. Thigh was measured between ASIS and medial plateau of tibia, and lower leg was measured between medial plateau of tibia and the floor vertically. RESULTS: Ratios of upper arm to height were 0.18+/-0.01 in group I, 0.19+/-0.02 in group II, 0.19+/-0.01 in group III, 0.19+/-0.01 in group IV, and 018+/-0.01 in group V. Ratios of forearm to height were 0.23+/-0.03, 0.23+/-0.03, 0.23+/-0.02, 0.22+/-0.01, and 0.22+/-0.01, respectively. Ratios of thigh to height were 0.27+/-0.03, 0.29+/-0.02, 0.31+/-0.02, 0.31+/-0.01, and 0.31+/-0.01 in each age group. Ratios of lower leg to height were 0.22+/-002, 0.25+/-0.02, 0.25+/-0.01, 0.26+/-0.01, and 0.25+/-0.01, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ratio of each body segment to height was useful in producing prosthesis for the people lost their both upper or lower extremities calculating the ultimate length of extremities through it.