Changes In Stature Research Articles

Trends in stature in the South Australian Aboriginal Murraylands.

Millennial and secular changes in body height of prehistoric and recent Aboriginal South Australians are investigated. Skeletal remains of 55 male and 40 female individuals who were excavated at Roonka on the River Murray were dated from 9800 to 100 years BP. Stature was reconstructed by using humerus, femur, and tibia ratios to stature derived from Abbie's (1975) data on living Aborigines and the Trotter-Gleser method for blacks. The respective averages were 1,652 mm and 1,665 mm for males and 1,527 mm and 1,549 mm for females. In 1996/1997, statures of 27 adult males and 21 adult females were measured in Aboriginal centers of Gerard and Raukkan (Point McLeay) on the Lower River Murray. These people, as far as it can be ascertained, are the descendants of the people from Roonka. Their statures were adjusted for the stature loss with age, so that the data represent young individuals (< or = 30 years of age). The average male stature was 1,712 mm, and the average female stature was 1,567 mm. Data collected by Wood Jones and Campbell in 1924 for Aboriginal South Australians show that young adult male stature was 1,668 mm (n=6), and female stature was 1,552 mm (n=4). Slopes of regressions of individual statures on radiocarbon dates and on dates of birth are not significantly different from zero. The same is true for regressions of individual long bone lengths on radiocarbon dates. It can be concluded that there was little change in stature of Aboriginal South Australians from prehistoric to recent times. Regressions of individual age-corrected heights on birth dates (1860-1980) of Aboriginal men and women measured in 1924 and in 1996 further indicate no significant increase in height in either sex.

CHANGES IN BODY SIZE OF OFFENSIVE PLAYERS IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: A 76 YEAR REVIEW OF 27,744 PLAYERS

1359 We evaluated change in body mass (BM) and stature (S) in 51,333 National Football League (NFL) players from it's inception in 1920 through 1966. Data came from official 1920-1996 NFL rosters ( Sports Encyclopedia, 1982, 1987) and Official NFL League Records and Facts Book, 1988-1996, Workman Publishing). The comparisons focuse on offensive lineman and tight ends (OL: N=13,528) and skill position players (SPP: QB's, receivers, run backs; N=14,216). The data represent all OL and SPP players from each NFL team. The insert figures show BM and S every 5-y from 1920-1960 and yearly thereafter.FigureResults: BM of SPP increased 10% from 1920 (85.5 kg) to 1996(94,0 kg), while BM for OL increased 53% over the same period (85.5 kg to 130.8 kg). In 1920, OL and SPP weighed the same. From 1980, the rate of increase in BM differed from the rate in 1920-1935, 1935-1965, and 1965-1980 (P<0.05). S for SPP peaked in 1979 (184.5 cm), but only rose 1.8% from 1920 to 1996. For OL, S increased 8.1% from 1920 (179.2 cm), achieving stability from 1985 to 1996 (193.5 cm). From 1920 to 1996, Body Mass Index (BMI) increased 6.2% for SPP (26.2 to 27.9) and 31.1% for OL (26.6 to 34.9 kg/m2). Conclusions: Over 76 y, BM increased 0.6 kg/y for OL while stabilizing for SPP. The 0.19 cm/y increase in S means that by 2007, OL should attain 195.5 cm (6 ft 8 in) and weigh 136.1 kg (300 lb). Unfortuneatley, a BMI=35.6 kg/m2 would clasify them as high disease risk.

Effects of deep and shallow water running on spinal shrinkage.

OBJECTIVES: Running in water has the potential to decrease the compressive forces on the spine as the body is supported. The aim of the study was to determine the magnitude...

Secular growth changes in the stature and weight of Amerindian schoolchildren and adults in the Chilean Andes, 1972-1987.

A positive secular trend for stature and weight is evident in rural Aymara-speaking Indians of the Parinacota Province (>3,000 m) in the northern Chilean Andes. The study is based on two cross-sectional growth surveys carried out in 1972 and 1987. In the survey of 1972, which was undertaken by other authors, a sample of 190 individuals was considered. The 1987 survey, performed by the present author, comprises a sample of 170 Indians. Both children and adults of each sex, ages 6-29 years, are included. Secular comparisons of age-grouped means indicate a secular increase in stature and weight in Aymara children, adolescents, and adults in the Parinacota Province between 1972 and 1987. The Aymara tend to be taller and heavier in 1987. The estimated secular increase for stature is 2.1 cm/decade for males and 1.8 cm/decade for females. For weight, the increase is 2.3 kg/decade for males and 1.5 kg/decade for females. In all cases, growth gains tend to be greater in males than in females. The body mass index also increases slightly. The secular changes in stature and weight are statistically significant in both sexes. From additional nutritional data on the Aymara samples compared, it is concluded that the observed secular increases might primarily reflect improved food supply over the past two decades. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:607-617, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Changes in height and motor performance relative to peak height velocity: A mixed-longitudinal study of Spanish boys and girls.

Longitudinal changes in stature and motor performance were studied in an adolescent sample of 36 boys and 53 girls. Peak height velocity (PHV) was determined in 28 boys and 38 girls using non-smoothed polynomials. The estimations of PHV and the age-at-PHV are, respectively, 11.4 ± 2.2 cm/yr and 13.0 ± 0.63 years (boys), and 8.7 ± 1.6 cm/yr and 12.4 ± 0.57 years (girls). Performances in explosive strength (standing long jump; medicine ball throw) and flexibility (trunk maximal flexion) exhibit peak development during the year following PHV in both sexes. Maximal mean growth velocities in an endurance run (six minutes) occur before PHV in girls and after PHV in boys. Peak velocities in agility (4 × 6 m shuttle run), running speed (40 m dash) and abdominal strength-resistance (sit-ups for 30 seconds) occur before PHV in both sexes. There also is an acceleration of performances in these three tests after PHV. The results indicate that performance in several motor tests shows an adolescent spurt of an intensity that is proportionally comparable to the adolescent height spurt in both sexes. The dynamics of changes in motor performance in relation to PHV appears similar in both sexes. The most striking difference occurs in the endurance run. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:647-660, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Food consumption in the pre-industrial Nordic societies

The article reviews different measures as to when the change from a survival society to a consumer society took place in the Nordic countries, and summarizes the results of earlier research. Among the measures used are foodstuff consumption, real wage levels, demographic development, and changes in human stature. The consumer revolution most likely started in Denmark before 1800 and in Norway and Sweden at the beginning of the nineteenth century, whereas in Finland and Iceland such change did not take place until after 1850.

Changes in stature following plyometric drop-jump and pendulum exercises

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in stature following the performance of plyometric exercises using drop-jumps and a pendulum swing. Eight male participants aged 21.7 ± 1.8 years with experience of plyometric training gave their informed consent to act as participants. Participants undertook two exercise regimens and a 15-min standing test in a random order. The exercises entailed the performance of 50 drop-jumps from a height of 0.28 m or 50 pendulum rebounds. Participants were instructed to perform maximal jumps or rebounds using a ‘bounce’ style. Measurements of stature were performed after a 20-min period of standing (pre-exercise), 2-min after exercise (post-exercise) and after a 20-min standing recovery (recovery). Back pain and muscle soreness were assessed using an analogue-visual scale, at each of the above times and also 24 and 36 h after the test. Peak torque during isokinetic knee extension at 1.04 rads−1 was measured immediately before and after the exercise bouts, to assess the degree of muscular fatigue. Ground/wall reaction force data were recorded using a Kistler force platform mounted in the floor for drop-jumps and vertically on the rebound wall for pendulum exercises. Drop-jumps resulted in the greatest (p<0.05) change in stature (-2.71±0.8 mm), compared to pendulum exercises (-1.77±0.7 mm) and standing (-0.39±0.2 mm). Both exercise regimens resulted in a significant (p<0.01) decrease in stature when compared to the standing condition. Dropjumps resulted in significantly greater peak impact forces (p<0.05) than pendulum exercises (drop-jumps = 3.2±0.5 × body weight, pendulum = 2.6±0.5×body weight). The two exercise conditions both invoked a small degree of muscle soreness but there were no significant differences between conditions. Both exercise regimens resulted in a non-significant decrease in peak torque indicating a similar degree of muscular fatigue. Based on the lower shrinkage resulted and lower peak forces, it can be concluded that pendulum exercises pose a lower injury potential to the lower back than drop-jumps performed from a height of 28 cm.

Prediction of adult stature and noninvasive assessment of biological maturation.

The Tanner-Whitehouse method to predict adult stature uses current stature, current skeletal age (SA), and chronological age (CA), and, if available, change (gain) in stature and SA over the previous year. Since assessment of SA requires invasive techniques, a method is proposed to predict adult stature noninvasively and to use percentage of adult stature as a maturity indicator. Age-specific multiple regression equations were calculated in a sample of 102 Flemish boys 13 through 16 yr who were followed during adolescence and remeasured at 30 yr of age. The proposed procedure, the Beunen-Malina method for prediction of adult stature, includes four somatic dimensions (current stature, sitting height, subscapular skinfold, triceps skinfold) and CA. In this age range multiple correlations (Rs between 0.70 and 0.87) and SEEs (between 3.0 and 4.2 cm) compare favorably with the original Tanner-Whitehouse method. Furthermore, when maturity groups based on percentage of adult stature calculated from the Beunen-Malina predictions are contrasted for somatic dimensions and performance characteristics, differences are similar to those observed when maturity grouping is based on skeletal maturity.

Secular changes in stature, weight, fatness, overweight, and obesity in urban African American adolescents from the mid-1950's to the mid-1990's.

The prevalence of obesity among American children and adults has increased over the past few decades. This paper reports secular changes in stature, weight, and fatness in three groups of urban African American adolescents between 11 and 15 years of age of comparable socioeconomic status, ethnic background, and region measured in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1990's. Adolescents measured in the 1990's were heavier and only somewhat taller than those measured in the 1960's and 1970's and significantly fatter than those measured in the 1970's. Adolescents measured in the 1990's were taller at younger ages (11–12 years) and markedly heavier, at all ages, than the NHANES I reference (Center For Disease Control, 1990). A threefold increase in males and a fourfold increase in females in the prevalence of obesity, defined by a BMI and triceps skinfold above the NHANES I 95th percentile occurred among these adolescents in the last two decades. Using the BMI only, the prevalence of overweight (1990's) was 17.6% based on the 95th percentile and 34.9% based on the 85th percentile of NHANES I (Must et al., 1991). These prevalence estimates exceed those derived from the first phase of NHANES III, 10.9% based on the 95th percentile and 22% based on the 85th percentile (NHES II and III) (Troiano, 1995). The alarming increase in overweight and obesity prevalence in this urban African American sample indicates that secular changes in adiposity are greater for certain subgroups of the U.S. population and that these groups may be at increased risk for future health problems. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 9:675–688, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Anthropometric worksheet for use with hemodialysis patients

NTHROPOMETRIC measurement proA vides additional information in the nutritional assessment of the hemodialysis patient. Assessing current status as well as monitoring changes in fat and somatic protein stores of the patient provide the clinician with information useful in addressing adequacy of protein and energy intake. Measuring triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF) allows the clinician to separate the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) into an estimation of fat stores as TSF and somatic protein status represented by mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and corrected arm muscle area (&MA). Fat and somatic protein stores vary by age, gender, and race, as reflected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). An indicator of obesity, Quetelet’s Index or Body Mass Index (BMI), compares weight to height and correlates well with body fatness. Comparison of TSF, MAMC, and MUAC to NHANES provides the clinician with a more detailed picture of the nutritional status of the patient compared with the general population. Repeat anthropometric measurements allow the clinician to monitor changes in stature, fat stores, and somatic protein status within the patient. The Anthropometric Worksheet (Fig 1) was developed to facilitate efficient measurement of a large number of dialysis patients over a short period of time. The form constitutes part of both the initial and the annual assessment of the patient. Height and wrist circumference measurements are performed at the first treatment to calculate the diet prescription. Arm measure-

Associations between changes in selected facial dimensions and the outcome of orthodontic treatment

The purpose of this study was to determine, in children with Class II, Division I malocclusion who were treated with functional appliances, the strength of the associations between the changes over 18 months in selected facial dimensions and the success of orthodontic treatment as determined by the weighted Peer Assessment Rating (PAR). Forty-two children, between 10 and 13 years of age (mean age 11.6 years), were randomly assigned to either an untreated group (control) or a group treated with either a Fränkel function regulator or Harvold activator (treatment). The outcome of treatment was assessed on study models and the craniofacial changes were measured on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Correlation coefficients were then calculated between the differences in the cephalometric variables over 18 months and the differences in the PAR scores. In the treatment group, the effects of normal growth were held constant by partial correlation. The partial used was the change in both stature and weight. Significant positive partial correlations were found between the increases in total anterior face height, posterior face height, S-Pg, and treatment success. Significant negative partial correlations were found between downward movement of the maxilla and mandibular body and lower anterior face height and treatment success. It is postulated that these associations occurred mainly in response to the bite opening by the appliances. Treatment success was also significantly associated with maxillary restriction, an increase in the SNB angle and a reduction in the ANB angle. Changes in B point due to proclination of the mandibular incisors were considered to be responsible for the two latter significant associations. Although mandibular length increased significantly in the treatment group, as compared with the control group, it was not significantly associated with treatment success. (Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop 1996;110:46-53.)

Growth studies in Jena, Germany: Historical background and secular changes in stature and weight in children 7–14 years

Anthropological investigations have been performed on Jena school children since 1880. The report summarizes the background of the surveys and then considers secular changes in stature and body weight since 1880. The stature of Jena school children shows a major increase over 105 years, ranging from 9.7% to 12.8% in girls and from 9.4% to 14.6% in boys. Changes in estimated growth rates are evident, especially in the preschool ages. Corresponding secular increases in weight between 1880 and 1985 range from 20.7% to 50.4%. Data during and after times of war suggest that females appear to react to changing living conditions more quickly than boys. On the other hand, the smaller variation in the stature of girls suggests more homogeneous and perhaps better buffered growth in girls. Estimated semiannual increments in stature and weight between 1880 and 1985 indicate an increase in the intensity of growth during school age in both sexes and acceleration of the pubertal growth spurt, especially in boys. The average decrease in weight in both sexes between 1932 and 1944 should be emphasized. This is the result of the poor nutritional conditions during the Second World War. Girls show a greater reduction in mean values than boys. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Growth studies in Jena, Germany: Historical background and secular changes in stature and weight in children 7–14 years

Growth studies in Jena, Germany: Historical background and secular changes in stature and weight in children 7–14 years

Studies of spinal shrinkage to evaluate low-back loading in the workplace.

Measurement of spinal shrinkage (stadiometry) has been suggested to be a convenient measure of low-back load in workplace settings. This report documents three separate experiments that collectively form a central theme: Is the measurement of spinal shrinkage a suitable assessment technique to quantify the cumulative effect of loading on the low back given the many sources for variability in the signal? A stadiometer was fabricated to measure both sitting and standing height. The first experiment was to compare sitting with standing stature changes over time in an attempt to locate the major site of shrinkage. There were no statistically significant differences in stature change found between either the sitting or standing posture for any condition suggesting that nearly all height changes occur in the spine. The second experiment compared the cumulative effects from static load holding to dynamic load lifting. Some subjects experienced more shrinkage in the static task while others experienced more in the dynamic task. In the third experiment, subjects performed work-rest cycles consisting of periods of sitting and lifting, and repeated over two days, to examine the recovery phenomenon. No specific pattern emerged owing to unpredictable subject variability. The first general observation obtained from the results of all three experiments is that the response of subjects to a wide array of activities appears to be variable both within each subject and over repeated exposures to identical conditions on different days. While subject variability (and perhaps biological variability) is a liability, it may be feasible to develop load time integrals for load exposure in the future, since the asset of the spinal shrinkage approach appears to be that it is one of the few available techniques to assess cumulative loading for both isometric postures, prolonged sitting, repeated tasks and responds to the positive adaptive changes that occur from periods of rest. However, it would appear that more quantification of the relationships that modulate spinal shrinkage are required to account for the variance in stature measurements.

Effect of Sit-Stand Schedule on Spinal Shrinkage fn VDT Operators

A controlled field study was conducted to measure spinal shrinkage in office employees with sit-stand type workstations. Thirteen office employees, ten healthy and three with spinal disorders participated in the study. Using a stadiometer, changes in stature were measured at 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., all subjects sat for 40 minutes and walked for 20 minutes. Out of the ten healthy employees, six were instructed to stand for 30 minutes four times during the day. The remaining four subjects stood eight times 15 minutes each. Office workers who stood in 30 minute sessions experienced significantly less shrinkage than those who stood in 15 minute sessions. Office workers with spinal disorders also stood eight times 15 minutes each. They incurred a greater variability in the shrinkage pattern.

Secular changes in the stature and weight of Taiwanese children, 1964-1988.

Secular changes in mean statures and body weights of nationally representative samples of school children from Taiwan, republic of china, between 1964 and 1988 are described. The trend is for continuous increase in both measures from 1964 through 1988, and the more recent data suggest that the positive secular trend is continuing more so in males than in females. Estimated ages at peak height velocity (PHV) and peak weight velocity (PWV), based on the Preece-Baines model I applied to the cross-sectional means, decline linearly in both sexes at about 0.04 yr/yr and 0.05 yr/yr, respectively. Chinese children in Taiwan, Republic of China, are, on average, heavier than Chinese children from the People's Republic of china, but differences in mean statures are negligible. Chinese children in Taiwan mature about 0.5 to 0.7 year earlier (estimated ages at PHV) than those in the People's Republic of China. Estimated rates of secular change in stature tend to be slightly greater in chinese children from the People's Republic of China between the 1950s and 1985 than in Chinese children from Taiwan, Republic of China, between 1964 and 1988. In contrast, estimated rates of secular change in body weight are greater in children from Taiwan than in children from the People's Republic of China. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Re‐examination of secular change in adult Irish stature

Data from a large cross-sectional study conducted in the 1930s were used to examine secular changes in adult stature in post-Famine Ireland. The sample consists of 4061 males and 804 females, who were 30 years of age or older at the time of measurement (mostly in 1935). The Himes-Mueller method was used to adjust stature for the effects of aging so that secular change could be assessed. The linear regression of adjusted stature on year of birth was significant for both males and females, and there was no significant difference in slopes between the sexes. These results show an increase in stature of approximately 0.35-0.40 cm per decade, which is not that different from increases found in other studies of 19th century European populations. No significant curvilinearity was detected. These results show that an earlier analysis of a much smaller portion of the sample was biased due to small numbers. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Stature Change in Prehistoric Maya of the Southern Lowlands

Since the 1950s, a decline in stature has been offered as evidence of increasing nutritional stress in prehistoric Maya populations, particularly during the Late Classic collapse. A review of the extant skeletal data, however, reveals very inconsistent support for such a decline. The primary explanation for the variation may reside in the small number of skeletal series that have representatives of more than one time period. Other possible explanations include methodological problems associated with stature reconstruction, reliability in sex determination, and variation in health response according to site size and location.

Estimation of spinal loads in overhead work.

To explore the spinal loads occurring in overhead working postures and to assess the value of ergonomic reduction of lumbar extension, spinal strain was measured by stature change in simulated motor vehicle maintenance tasks. A field study identified the typical extent of lumbar extension incurred in this type of work. In the laboratory eight male volunteers tightened and loosened bolts both overhead and at chest-height for 30 min periods; records were made of lumbar posture, ground reaction force, and perceived exertion. Stature change was measured using a refined technique which permitted estimation of net effect of the work loads. The field study revealed that motor mechanics typically spent 8% of their time working overhead with up to 10 degrees of lumbar extension. In the laboratory study, the overhead task entailed more lumbar extension and perceived exertion than did the chest-height task; ground reaction forces did not differ substantially between tasks. Only small changes in stature were observed at the end of the work period, and there was no significant difference between the tasks (means: overhead, +0.61 mm; chest-height, -0.23 mm: p = 0.31). Stature change was significantly correlated with lordosis for overhead work such that increased lordosis (compared with chest-height work) was associated with relative stature gain. No evidence was found to indicate a need for ergonomic intervention in overhead work tasks so far as spinal loading is concerned. The lack of substantial change in stature from tasks perceived to involve moderately high levels of exertion was unexpected; it would appear that some elements of dynamic work tasks may have a relative unloading effect, and that lordotic postures reduce load on the spinal discs.

Effects of two types of chairs on stature change and comfort for individuals with healthy and herniated discs

The objective of this study was to determine if stature change and perceived comfort are significantly different for individuals with either healthy or herniated discs when seated in a conventional chair or a sit-stand chair. Sixteen subjects were studied (5 young/healthy, 6 old/healthy, 5 old/herniated). Subjects performed a search task on a computer screen during two 2 h sessions for two consecutive days, with a different chair each day. Changes in stature were measured with a stadiometer. General comfort and body parts discomfort rating scales were administered every 30 min. The main findings were: (1) for all subjects, the sit-stand chair produces less height loss than the conventional chair; and (2) for both chairs, subjects with herniated discs lost more height than subjects with healthy discs. A positive correlation was observed for height loss and age with the sit-stand chair. Subjects with herniated discs felt relatively more uncomfortable in the conventional chair and more comfortable in the sit-stand chair compared to subjects with healthy discs. Both old healthy and young healthy subjects felt more comfortable in the conventional chair in comparison to the sit-stand chair. But, old healthy subjects had a relatively greater perception of comfort in the conventional chair compared with the younger subjects.