Estimation of stature from lower limb measurements by regression analysis in north-west Indian population

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the stature from lower limb parameters in the north-west population of India and to know whether a significant correlation exists between the stature and various lower limb dimensions and to further derive regression formulae for estimation of stature from various lower limb segments. Materials and methods: the study was conducted on medical students age ranged between 18 to 28 years, which comes chiefly from north-west part of India. Only the subjects willing to participate in the study and given their written informed consent were included in the study group. The students having any obvious physical deformity were excluded from the study. Correlations between various lower limb parameters and stature were determined by using the Pearson’s correlation test. Sex-specific linear regression equations for stature estimation were developed using the lower limb measurements. The multiple regressions equations were produced based on various combinations of the parameters by stepwise regression analysis. Results: the Pearson’s correlation in combined group showed good correlations between lower limb parameters and stature. There was no statistically significant difference between known stature and estimated stature by using paired T-test for both right and left side in a group consisting of both sexes and in males (p>0.05). Conclusion: from the parameters, lower limb length and foot length had shown strong positive correlations with stature in the north-west Indian population