Estimation of Stature from Lower Extremity among the Santhal Tribe of Odisha, India

In this study, an attempt was made to develop a new regression procedure for predicting and to analyze anthropometric relationships between dimensions of the lower extremity and body height. Analysis is based on a 316 sample of middle aged people of Santhal tribes of Odisha (205 male and 111 female adult Santhali residing in Odisha). Measurements taken are stature, trochanteric height, thigh length, lower leg length, leg length, and foot length, breadth and height. Out of five variables entered into the regression analysis, all but foot breadth participate in the analysis with leg length as the first and followed by thigh and foot lengths, and finally foot height in males (R2). There were also individually calculated formulae for some of these measurements which provided smaller R2-values. In conclusion, the study suggested that estimation of a living height can be made possible using various dimensions of the lower extremity. One must consider differences between populations in order to apply functions as such to others.