NUT ASS Practicals

Recumbent Length    

How to measure the recumbent length of a baby. First, if we don’t have an infantometer, we are going to use measuring tape

• When measuring the baby's length, it is recommended that you have assistance holding and stabilizing the baby to ensure accurate measurement. If you are alone, stabilize the baby above the table. First, keep the head and mark where it is placed above, then stretch its feet and mark the table where the heel is placed above

• Using an infantometer, place the baby above the equipment with the head below the fixed headboard and the feet facing the sliding footboard. Using the sliding footboard, glide along the scale until it touches the baby’s feet

• It’s also worth noting if the baby is not stable, use its left foot, and read the measurement of the length of the baby in the nearest millimeters

Height

How to measure the height of a person? When measuring a person's height, make sure the person is not wearing shoes and is standing erect: head, shoulders, buttocks, and feet are attached to the wall or apparatus, and if a patient is obese or overweight and cannot attach the aforementioned body parts, make sure the patient is standing erect. The height measurement is taken at maximum inspiration, reading the lower nearest millimeter to avoid visual parallax error. A person's height can be measured in different ways: using a microtoise, a measuring tape, or a stadiometer.

• Using Microtoise, first install it by setting it to the correct height: place the stature meter above the flat surface and pull its measuring tape. Once the Height Window/Read-off Area turns 0, you can attach the top of the measuring tape to the wall. Place the person under the microtoise, slide the headpiece to the desired height, and read the measurement through the height window.

• Using a stadiometer, position the person in front of the apparatus. Adjust the height of the apparatus according to the person’s height, and read the base of the apparatus for measurement

• Using a measuring tape, place it vertically to the ground with the starting point above the surface and measure the height of a person above the head using a flat object.

Knee Height

The person lies supine with the left knee and ankle bent at 90° angles with foot pointing upward. A caliper is placed with the fixed blade under the heel and the movable blade on the anterior surface of the thigh, or using measuring tape, just above the patella. The apparatus used is held parallel to the long axis of lower leg.

Weight

Before weighing the person, make sure the bladder is emptied, less clothing as possible and no shoes. A persons weight can be measured by using beam-balance weight scale and digital of electronic weighing scale. Read in the nearest 10 gram. For infant,

Elbow Breadth

Stand straight and bend your right arm (or dominant hand) at a angle at the elbow, keeping the upper arm parallel to the ground and fingers pointing up. Locate the bony protrusions (epicondyles) on either side of the elbow. Using a small sliding caliper or anthropometer, measure the widest distance across these two bones.For accuracy, apply firm pressure to compress any skin or fat.If calipers are unavailable, use your thumb and forefinger as a makeshift gauge, then measure the distance between them with a ruler.

Head Circumference

Ensure the child is calm, seated, or lying down. Remove any hair ornaments or braids.Place the tape measure on the most prominent part of the forehead (supraorbital ridges). Wrap the tape around the head, passing it above the ears to the occipital prominence (the most prominent point at the back of the head). Measure the circumference where the tape meets, ensuring it is snug but does not compress the skin. Take the measurement two or three times to verify the result.

Arm Span

Stand with your back against a wall, arms outstretched horizontally at shoulder level ( to the torso), with palms facing forward.Measure the distance from the tip of the right middle finger to the tip of the left middle finger, ideally using a non-stretching tape measure to avoid hypotenuse error or arc error.

Demi Span

The individual extends one arm laterally. A non-stretch tape measure is used to measure from the center of the sternal notch (top of the breastbone) to the midpoint of the root of the fingers (the web between the middle and ring fingers).

Ulna Length

Ask the person to bend their non-dominant arm across their chest, with the palm resting on the opposite shoulder and fingers pointing upwards. Locate the prominent point of the elbow (olecranon) and the bony prominence at the wrist (styloid process). Using a non-stretchable tape measure, measure the distance between these two points in centimeters. Take the measurement to the nearest milimeter

Skinfold Thickness

Identify the correct site on the right side of the body; Tricep, bicep, subscapular, supra illac, and midaxially. Use the thumb and index finger to lift a double layer of skin and subcutaneous fat, ensuring no muscle is included. Apply the lange caliper 1 cm below the fingers, at a right angle to the fold. Take the reading 2–3 seconds after applying the caliper. Take two measurements at each site and average them (or take a third if the first two differ significantly).

Waist-Hip Circumference

Find the narrowest part of your torso, typically located just above the belly button. Stand straight and breathe out normally—do not suck in your stomach. Wrap a flexible, non-stretchable tape measure around this point, ensuring it is snug but not digging into the skin. Take the measurement in inches or centimeters

Find the widest part of your hips and buttocks. Stand with your feet together. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your buttocks. Ensure the tape remains level all the way around, keeping it parallel to the floor. Use the same units as the waist measurement.

Mid Upper Arm Circumference

Have the person bend their left arm at a 90° angle. Measure the distance between the bony protrusion of the shoulder (acromion) and the tip of the elbow (olecranon), then mark the midpoint.Allow the arm to hang loosely, then wrap a non-stretchable, flexible tape measure around the midpoint, ensuring it is snug but does not compress the skin. Measure to the nearest 0.1 cm

Mid Upper Arm Muscle Circumference

Above + tricep

Identify the midpoint between the acromion process (bony tip of the shoulder) and the olecranon process (bony tip of the elbow) on the posterior aspect of the arm. Mark this vertical midpoint. The subject should stand with arms relaxed and hanging freely at the side. Using the left thumb and index finger, lift a vertical skinfold about above the marked midpoint. Place the caliper jaws perpendicular to the skinfold, below the fingers, at the marked midpoint. Release the caliper trigger, wait 2–3 seconds, and read the measurement to the nearest. Take 2–3 measurements and calculate the average for higher accuracy.