Bilateral asymmetry in arm anthropometric measurements according to laterality and nutritional status in children and adolescents from 6 to 12 years old

Abstract

To compare and correlate anthropometric measurements of the left arm versus the right arm and to establish their relation to laterality, sex, and nutritional status in children and adolescents from 6 to 12 years of age. Methods:A cross-sectional study included 605 children and adolescents (285 males; 320 females), with a middle socioeconomic status, that attended an urban elementary school. Anthropometric measurements were taken in both arms, along with height and weight, to assess nutritional status. Self-reported hand preference was recorded.Results: A total of 49.3% were females and 93% of the subjects were righthanded (n = 563). The mean comparison of right arm and left arm measurements and areas, according to laterality, showed differences in arm fat measurements, with higher values in the right arm. However, the mean difference in triceps skinfold and upper arm measurements between the right arm and left arm was smaller than the technical error of measurement. Significant differences were observed between arm measurements and areas. Upper arm and total upper arm areas of both arms had the highest regression coefficients, with an adjusted R 2 of .98, whereas the arm fat index had the lowest (adjusted R 2 of .88). Adjusting the previous differences between the right arm and left arm by age, sex, BMI, and laterality produced similar results. Conclusions: Statistical but not clinically significant differences were found between some measurements and areas of both arms, discretely modified in models adjusted for age and BMI, so the measurements can be made on either arm.

Identifying the Differences in Symmetry of the Anthropometric Parameters of the Upper Limbs in Relation to Manual Laterality between Athletes Who Practice Sports with and without a Ball

“…The results of the mentioned study substantiate the results of our study, in which significant statistical differences were identified between different anthropometric parameters between the right hand (dominant, in the case of the present study) and the left hand. Numerous studies have highlighted anthropometric differences between the right-hand and the lefthand parameters, depending on gender [61][62][63]; ethnicity [64,65]; occupation [66,67]; and laterality [68][69][70]. A study conducted on 161 university student subjects identified significant differences between the male and female samples, with the male group recording an average hand width of 7.57 cm [71].…”