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Protocol - Height - Knee Height

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Description

Knee height is measured as the distance from the surface over the femoral condyles to the heel, with the knee flexed to approximately 90 degrees. This measure is used for individuals who are 60 years of age or older, who are unable to stand, or who have spinal deformities. It may be necessary to take replicate measurements.

Specific Instructions

Three measurement protocols (Standing Height, Recumbent Height, and Knee Height) accommodate various groups of participants. Self-Reported Height should be used as a last resort only. Several overarching, critical issues for high-quality data collection of anthropometric measures that optimize the data in gene-environment etiologic research include (1) the need for training (and retraining) of study staff in anthropometric data collection; (2) duplicate collection of measurements, especially under field conditions; (3) use of more than one person for proper collection of measurements where required; (4) accurate recording of the protocols and the measurement units of data collection; and (5) use of required and properly calibrated equipment.

The notion of recommending replicate measurements comes from the reduction in random errors of measurement and accompanying improved measurement reliability when the mean of multiple measurements is used rather than the a single measurement. This improvement in measurement reliability, however, depends on the reliability of a single measurement in the hands of the data collectors in a particular study (Himes, 1989). For example, if a measure such as standing height in a given study has a measurement reliability of 0.95 (expressed as an intraclass correlation coefficient), taking a second measurement and using the mean of the two measurements in analyses will improve the reliability to only 0.97, yielding only a 2% reduction in error variance for the additional effort. If, in the same study, the reliability of a single triceps skinfold measurement was 0.85, using the mean, including a replicate measurement, would raise the reliability to 0.92 and yield a 7% reduction in error variance, more than a three-fold improvement compared with recumbent length. Because the benefits of taking replicate measurements are so closely linked with the existing measurement reliability, it is recommended that as a part of the training of those who will be collecting anthropometry data, a reliability study be conducted that will yield measurement reliability estimates for the data collectors, protocols, settings, and participants involved in that particular study (Himes, 1989). If the measurement reliability for a single measurement is greater than or equal to 0.95, the recommendation is that replicate measurement are not necessary and will yield little practical benefit. If the measurement reliability is less than 0.95, the recommendation is to include replicate measurements as prescribed.

If replicate measurements are indicated because of relatively low reliability, a second measurement should be taken, including repositioning the participant. A third measurement should be taken if the first two measurements differ by more than 1.0 cm. If it is necessary to take a third measurement, the two closest measurements are averaged. Should the third measurement fall equally between the first two measurements, all three should be averaged.

Height Prediction

The PhenX Expert Review Panel recommends applying the height prediction equations published by Chumlea and colleagues (1998) based on U.S. national data. The equations are presented separately by gender and race/ethnicity groups for U.S. adults 60 years of age or older.

Height prediction equations using measured knee height differ considerably by gender, age, and race/ethnicity groups because of the different relative proportions of limb segments and height. Accordingly, for applications in other populations, especially those outside of the United States, appropriate equations should be identified for height estimation.

Availability

Available

Protocol

Knee height was measured on adults 60 years of age and older during National Health and Nutrition Examination Study III, 1988-94. Measurements are taken in the seated position with both legs dangling. The examiner places the fixed blade of the large sliding caliper under the heel of the right leg just below the lateral malleolus of the fibula. From a squatting position, the examiner raises the leg so that the knee and ankle are both at a 90-degree angle (see Exhibit 1). This is best accomplished by resting the participant’s foot in the palm of the examiner’s hand. The moveable blade of the caliper is placed on the anterior surface of the right thigh, above the condyles of the femur, about two inches above the patella. The shaft of the caliper is held parallel to the shaft of the tibia so that the shaft of the caliper passes over the lateral malleolus of the fibula and just posterior to the head of the fibula. Pressure is applied to compress the tissue. The recorder checks the positioning of the leg and the caliper. Knee height is recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm.

Exhibit 1. Proper Positioning of the Participant for the Knee Height Protocol

Personnel and Training Required

Technicians should be trained in the basic techniques of anthropometric measurements and specifically in using calipers.

Equipment Needs

Calipers

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Physical Examination

Lifestage

Senior

Participants

This measure includes four protocols, and each protocol relates to the age of the participant and his or her ability to stand up straight. A fourth protocol for self-reported height is included but is considered a protocol of last resort when direct measurement of height or its proxy is not possible.

Standing Height

The standing height protocol is used for participants 2 years of age or older who can stand unassisted.

Recumbent Length

The recumbent length protocol is used for all infants and children from birth through 47 months of age.

Knee Height

The knee height protocol was used for participants 60 years of age or older or for individuals who cannot stand unassisted.

Self-Reported Height*

Study subject aged 16 years or older or by a knowledgeable adult proxy for children younger than 16 years of age.

*NOTE: Self-reported height values are considered to be less accurate and are used only when measured height cannot be obtained.

Selection Rationale

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008 protocols were selected as best practice methodology and are the most widely used protocols to assess height.

Language

Chinese, English, Other languages available at source

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) PhenX - knee height protocol 62335-5 LOINC
Human Phenotype Ontology Abnormality of body height HP:0000002 HPO
Human Phenotype Ontology Short stature HP:0004322 HPO
Human Phenotype Ontology Tall stature HP:0000098 HPO
caDSR Form PhenX PX020701 - Knee Height 5801120 caDSR Form
Derived Variables

Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WtHR)

Process and Review

The Expert Review Panel #1 reviewed the measures in the Anthropometrics, Diabetes, Physical Activity and Physical Fitness, and Nutrition and Dietary Supplements domains.

Guidance from the ERP includes:

• Added replicate measure language

• Changed unit of measurement

Back-compatible: no changes to Data Dictionary

Previous version in Toolkit archive (link)

Protocol Name from Source

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III), Body Measurements, 1988

Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (1988). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994: Body Measurements (Anthropometry). Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A video of anthropometric procedures is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes3/anthropometric_videos.htm.

General References

Chumlea, W. C., Guo, S. S., Wholihan, K., Cockram, D., Kuczmarski, R. J., & Johnson, C. L. (1998). Stature prediction equations for elderly non-Hispanic, white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American persons developed from NHANES III data. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 98(2), 137-142.

Himes, J. H. (1989). Reliability of anthropometric methods and replicate measurements. (1989). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 79, 77-80.

Protocol ID

20701

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX020701_Knee_Height_1
PX020701010000 Knee Height measured in centimeter, first more
measurement show less
N/A
PX020701_Knee_Height_2
PX020701020000 Knee Height measured in centimeter, second more
measurement show less
N/A
PX020701_Knee_Height_3
PX020701030000 Knee Height measured in centimeter, third more
measurement show less
N/A
PX020701_Knee_Height_Average
PX020701040000 Knee Height measured in centimeter, average Variable Mapping
Anthropometrics
Measure Name

Height

Release Date

March 27, 2009

Definition

Height is the distance from the top of the participant’s head to the heels of his or her feet (i.e., the vertical length).

Purpose

Height or stature is used to assess body size and bone length. Recumbent length is used to measure length of infants, and knee height may be used to estimate height when stature cannot be measured in older adults.

Keywords

Anthropometrics, body mass index, BMI, stature, Waist-to-Height Ratio, WHtR, NHANES, gerontology, aging, geriatrics

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
20701 Height - Knee Height
20702 Height - Recumbent Length
20703 Height - Standing Height
20704 Height - Self-Reported Height
Publications

There are no publications listed for this protocol.