Knemometry

Knemometry (Greek η κνημη the lower leg ) describes a technique for measuring the distance between the knee and heel of a seated child or young person . Knemometric measurements have a measurement error of less than 160 µm (0.16 mm) and show growth within a few weeks (short-term growth).

The measuring device

A mini knemometer for measuring newborn babies

Ignaz Maria Valk developed this technique in 1983 in Nijmegen / Netherlands . It has since been used for basic research and in the treatment of stunted growth . Hermanussen led for precision measurements at breakfast - and newborn a mini-knemometry. The mini-knemometry determines the length of the lower leg with an accuracy of less than 100 µm (0.1 mm). This enabled growth to be detected within 24 hours. In the animal model , the technique was used to study the effects of steroids and growth hormone on short-term growth. These studies were important prerequisites for improving growth treatments.

The measurement of short term growth

The auxological term short-term growth describes characteristic properties of growth when measurements are taken at intervals of significantly less than a year (e.g. monthly, weekly or even daily). Knemometry was primarily used for this purpose. However, short-term growth can also be described with very frequent measurements and conventional length measurement technology.

Short-term growth consists of small growth spurts (miniature growth spurts). In newborns, these relapses occur at intervals of 2 to 10 days and reach maximum speeds of 0.2 mm per hour on the lower leg. Growth hormone treatments can affect the sequence (faster) and the appearance (wider) of these attacks. Catch-up growth after stagnation due to illness , starvation, and other adverse circumstances is characterized by a series of broadened miniature growth spurts.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ IM Valk, AM Chabloz, AG Smals, PW Kloppenborg, FG Cassorla, EA Schutte: Accurate measurements of the lower leg length and the ulnar length and its application in short term growth measurement. In: Growth , 47, 1983, pp. 53-66, PMID 6862263 .
2. ↑ M. Hermanussen, K. Geiger-Benoit, WG Sippell: Catch-up growth following transfer from three times weekly im to daily sc administration of hGH in GH deficient patients, monitored by knemometry. In: Acta Endocrinol. , 109, 1985, pp. 163-168, PMID 4013610 .
3. ↑ M. Hermanussen, K. Seele: Mini-knemometry: an accurate technique for lower leg length measurements in early childhood. In: Ann. Hum. Biol. , 24, pp. 307-313, PMID 9239436 .
4. ↑ M. Hermanussen, MA Rol de Lama, JA F-Tresguerres, L. Grasedyck, J. Burmeister: Short-term growth: evidence for chaotic series of mini growth spurts in rat growth. In: Physiol. Behav. , 64, 1998, pp. 7-13, PMID 9661976 .
5. ↑ M. Hermanussen: The measurement of short term growth. In: J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. Metab. , 16, 2003, pp. 969-971, PMID 14513872 .
6. ↑ S. Caino, D. Kelmansky, P. Adamo, H. Lejarraga: Short-term growth in healthy infants, schoolchildren and adolescent girls. In: Ann. Hum. Biol. , 33, 2006, pp. 213-226, PMID 16684694 .

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !