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The association between knee breadth and body mass: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 case study
Author(s) -
Keisu Asla,
Oura Petteri,
Niskanen Markku,
Ruff Christopher B.,
Niinimäki Jaakko,
Arvola Timo,
Auvinen Juha,
Tuukkanen Juha,
Lehenkari Petri,
Junno JuhoAntti
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.23905
Subject(s) - condyle , body mass index , linear regression , medicine , cohort , body weight , knee joint , population , orthodontics , demography , body height , regression analysis , cohort study , mathematics , surgery , statistics , environmental health , sociology
Objectives Body mass estimation from skeletal dimensions is a useful tool when studying archeological human samples. Bony articular surface dimensions of the lower limb have frequently been utilized to estimate body size. In the present study, we investigated the association between knee breadth and body mass in a Northern European population. Our study aimed to confirm both methodology and results presented in earlier studies. Materials and methods The study sample consists of 1,290 subjects belonging to the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. Three knee breadth dimensions—femoral biepicondylar breadth, mediolateral breadth of femoral condyles, and mediolateral breadth of the tibial plateau—were measured from subjects' knee PA‐radiographs. Measurements and their association with body weight at 31 years were utilized for creating body mass estimation equations using linear regression and reduced major axis regression. Correlations between knee measurements and body weight at three different ages (18, 31, and 46) were also analyzed. Results Positive associations were detected between each knee breadth variable and weight in the total sample and both genders separately. Body mass estimation equations were created for the total sample, for males and for females. R values of the models ranged from 0.38 to 0.74. Median absolute percent prediction errors ranged from 6.89 to 9.72%. The highest correlations were obtained between knee breadth and body weight in early adulthood. Discussion Our large sample confirmed that equations derived from knee breadth dimensions are accurate when estimating body mass of modern humans. Knee breadth measurements clearly have a positive association with body weight in early maturity.