The length of the lower limbs, the index of length and muscularity of the lower limbs, and the results of the “Timed Up and Go” test in school-age children – a pilot study

Introduction
The authors were interested in whether the length of lower limbs and the index of the length and muscularity of lower limbs differentiates the “Timed Up and Go” test (TUG) results in school-aged children. The study is of a pilot nature. There is currently no table of norms for the TUG results in children.

Aim
To examine whether the results of the TUG are differentiated by the length of lower limbs and indices of the length and muscularity of the lower limbs in school-aged children, and whether the anthropometric parameters mentioned are differentiated by age and gender.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 31 school-aged children. For measuring anthropometric features body height, length of lower limbs (height of symphysion, iliospinale anterior, trochanterion), and the largest circumference of the shin at rest, an anthropometer and anthropometric tape were used, respectively. From the collected measurements, the following ratios were calculated: length and muscularity of lower limbs. Each participant was subjected to two measurements by means of the TUG. The average time taken for the TUG was calculated.

Results
There were no statistically significant positive correlations between the studied anthropometric parameters and the TUG results (p > 0.05). There were statistically significant correlations between the age and the length of the lower limbs (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
The TUG results are not differentiated by the studied anthropometric parameters. Age differentiates the length of lower limbs. There is a need to develop normative TUG values for children. Establishment of the TUG normative values is clinically significant for comparing physical function of healthy and disabled children.