Determination of Frame Size

DETERMINATION OF FRAME SIZE

Method 1: Wrist Measurement	Height (cm)
Frame Size (r values) =	Height (cm)
	Wrist Circumference (cm)

r values
Females	Males	Interpretation	Method
>11.0	>10.4	Small frame	Measure individual height in centimeters (cm)
10.1 – 11	9.6 – 10.4	Medium frame	Measure the smallest part of the individual’s wrist in centimeters.
<10.1	<9.6	Large frame	Divide the height by the wrist circumference to derive r value for frame size. Look at table to the left to interpret frame size of individual.

Method 2: Elbow Breadth (1,2)
Frame size is influenced by soft tissue and fat but elbow breadth is a good index of skeletal or frame size and is less affected by fat than wrist circumference. It is also closely associated with lean body mass. Elbow breadth is the distance between the epicondyles of the humerus and should be measured with either sliding or spreading calipers. To measure:

Extend one arm in front of the body and bend the forearm upward at a 90° angle. Keep the fingers straight and turn the inside of the wrist toward the body.
Place the thumb and index finger of the other hand on the two prominent bones (epicondyles of the humerus) on the right side of the elbow. For greatest accuracy, use sliding calipers. (Sliding calipers can be obtained from Lafayette Instrument, PO Box 5729, 3700 Sagamore Pkwy N, Lafayette, IN 47903; telephone: 800/428-7545; fax: 765-423-4111; e-mail: rehab@licmef.com.)
Place the blades of the sliding caliper (blades pointing up) or the tips of the spreading caliper on the epicondyles. Exert firm pressure to compress the soft tissues and record in the measurement to the nearest 0.1 cm.
Frisancho developed a frame index based on elbow, breadth, height, and age. “Frame Index 2” was derived using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES) and accounts for age-related changes to height and weight. Plug the value into the following formula:
Use the table below to identify frame size for age.

Frame-Size Based on Stature and Age
Age (yr)	Men			Women
Age (yr)	Small	Medium	Large	Small	Medium	Large
18 – 25	<38.4	38.4 – 41.6	>41.6	< 35.2	35.2 – 38.6	>38.6
25 – 30	<38.6	38.6 – 41.8	>41.8	<35.7	35.7 – 38.7	>38.7
30 – 35	<38.6	38.6 – 42.1	>42.1	<35.7	35.7 – 39.0	>39.0
35 – 40	<39.1	39.1 – 42.4	>42.4	<36.2	36.2 – 39.8	>39.8
40 – 45	<39.3	39.3 – 42.5	>42.5	<36.7	36.7 – 40.2	>40.2
45 – 50	<39.6	39.6 – 43.0	>43.0	<36.7	37.2 – 40.7	>40.7
50 – 55	<39.9	39.9 – 43.3	>43.3	<37.2	37.2 – 41.6	>41.6
55 – 60	<40.2	40.2 – 43.8	>43.8	<37.8	37.8 – 41.9	>41.9
60 – 65	<40.2	40.2 – 43.6	>43.6	<38.2	38.2 – 41.8	>41.8
65 – 70	<40.2	40.2 – 43.6	>43.6	<38.2	38.2 – 41.8	>41.8
70 – 75	<40.2	40.2 – 43.6	>43.6	<38.2	38.2 – 41.8	>41.8
Adapted from: Frisancho AR. Anthropometric Standards for the Assessment of Growth and Nutritional Status. Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press; 1990. In: Grant A, DeHoog S. Nutrition Assessment Support and Management. 5th ed. Seattle, Wash: Grant/DeHoog; 1999. Reprinted by permission.
Bibliography Frisancho R. New standards of body weight and composition by frame size and height for assessment of nutritional status of adults and elderly. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984;40:808 Grant A, DeHoog S. Nutrition Assessment Support and Management. 5th ed. Seattle, Wash: Grant/DeHoog; 1999. Grant J. Handbook of Total Parenteral Nutrition. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1992:19.