Arm span development patterns in infants and young children and their role in growth assessment

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0696

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the developmental characteristics of arm span and the arm span/body length ratio in infants and young children. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1 101 full-term, appropriate-for-gestational-age Han Chinese infants and young children (572 boys, 51.95%; 529 girls, 48.05%) who underwent health check-ups at the Department of Child Health Care, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2022 to March 2024.Body length, weight, head circumference, arm span, and crown-rump length were measured.The arm span/body length and crown-rump length/body length ratios were calculated.Independent samples t-test was used to compare differences in indicators between sexes within the same age group.Pearson correlation analysis was employed to analyze the relationships between arm span, crown-rump length, and body length.Univariate linear regression was used to establish linear regression relationships between arm span, crown-rump length, and body length. Results There were significant differences in arm span between different genders of each age group (P＜0.05), with boys having larger measurements, while the arm span/body length ratio showed no significant gender differences (P >0.05).With increasing age, arm span and the arm span/body length ratio generally showed an upward trend in both boys and girls.The ranges of arm span were (55.3±1.9)cm to (90.4±5.1) cm for boys and (53.9±2.0)cm to (88.7±4.3) cm for girls.The ranges of arm span/body length ratio were 0.962±0.026 to 0.976±0.023 for boys and 0.957±0.025 to 0.973±0.022 for girls.Arm span was strongly positively correlated with body length in both boys and girls (r =0.988, 0.988,P <0.0001).Crown-rump length was also significantly positively correlated with body length (r=0.976 for boys, r=0.973 for girls, P<0.0001).The regression equations for arm span and body length were: Body length=0.983 × Arm span + 3.333 (R²=0.976) for boys and Body length=0.978 × Arm span + 3.868 (R²=0.976) for girls. Conclusions Arm span development in infants and young children exhibits age and sex differences.Arm span shows a strong correlation with body length and can be used to predict body length, with better predictive value than crown-rump length.The arm span/body length ratio increases with age.This study provides reference ranges for these measurements, offering valuable data for the early clinical identification of disorders characterized by disproportionate limb and trunk growth.

Key words: arm span, body length, arm span/body length, body proportion, infants and toddlers

摘要： 目的分析婴幼儿指距生长和指距/身长比例关系的变化特点。方法采用横断面研究设计,以2022年6月—2024年3月在青岛大学附属医院儿童保健科健康查体的1 101例出生时为足月适于胎龄儿(男572例,51.95%;女529例,48.05%)的健康汉族婴幼儿为研究对象。测量身长、体重、头围、指距、顶臀长,并计算指距/身长、顶臀长/身长。采用t检验比较同年龄组不同性别婴幼儿各指标的差异,采用Pearson相关分析方法分析指距、顶臀长与身长的相关性,采用线性回归分析方法分析指距、顶臀长与身长的线性回归关系。结果同年龄组不同性别婴幼儿的指距差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05),男童＞女童,指距/身长的差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。随月龄增长,男、女童的指距、指距/身长总体呈上升趋势,男、女童指距的变化范围分别为(55.3±1.9)cm～(90.4±5.1)cm、(53.9±2.0)cm～(88.7±4.3)cm,指距/身长的变化范围分别为0.962±0.026～0.976±0.023、 0.957±0.025～0.973±0.022;男、女童指距与身长均呈显著正相关(r=0.988、0.988,P＜0.001),男、女童顶臀长与身长均呈显著正相关,相关系数分别为(r=0.976、0.973,P＜0.001);男童、女童指距与身长的回归方程分别为:身长=0.983×指距+3.333(R²=0.976)、身长=0.978×指距+3.868(R²=0.976)。结论婴幼儿指距生长发育存在年龄、性别差异。指距与身长具有很强的相关性,可以通过指距预测身长,且其预测性能要优于顶臀长。婴幼儿指距/身长随年龄增长呈上升趋势,本研究提供其变化范围,为临床早期识别肢体与躯干之间不成比例的疾病提供了参考。

关键词: 指距, 身长, 指距/身长, 身体比例, 婴幼儿

CLC Number:

R179

ZHANG Chong, YU Meiyan, XU Guiqiang, YUAN Feng, YI Mingji, SHAN Yanchun. Arm span development patterns in infants and young children and their role in growth assessment[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care, 2026, 34(1): 65-70.

张冲, 于美艳, 徐桂强, 袁凤, 衣明纪, 单延春. 婴幼儿指距发展规律及在生长评价中的作用[J]. 中国儿童保健杂志, 2026, 34(1): 65-70.

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