Knemometry () is the medical term for measuring the

distance Distance is a numerical or occasionally qualitative measurement of how far apart objects, points, people, or ideas are. In physics or everyday usage, distance may refer to a physical length or an estimation based on other criteria (e.g. "two co ...

between

knee In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the hu ...

and

heel The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg. Structure To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...

of a sitting

child A child () is a human being between the stages of childbirth, birth and puberty, or between the Development of the human body, developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking ...

adolescent Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated w ...

using a technical device, the knemometer. Knemometric measurements show a measurement error of less than 160 μm (0.16 mm) and enable illustrating growth at intervals of few weeks (short-term growth).

The device

Ignaz Maria Valk developed this technique in 1983 in

Nijmegen Nijmegen ( , ; Nijmeegs: ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the ninth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal River close to the German border, Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the ...

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

. It is being practiced since and used for

basic research Basic research, also called pure research, fundamental research, basic science, or pure science, is a type of scientific research with the aim of improving scientific theories for better understanding and prediction of natural or other phenome ...

in growth and the treatment of growth disorders. Hermanussen introduced the mini-knemometer for accurate growth measurements of prematures and newborn infants. Mini-knemometry determines the lower leg length with an accuracy of less than 100 μm (0.1 mm). This enables substantiating growth within 24 hours. In an animal model, the technique was used to investigate the effects of

steroids A steroid is an organic compound with four fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter mem ...

and

growth hormone Growth hormone (GH) or somatotropin, also known as human growth hormone (hGH or HGH) in its human form, is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans and other animals. It is thus important in ...

on short-term growth. These studies were an important prerequisite for improving growth therapies.

The measurement of short-term growth

The auxological term "short-term growth" denotes growth characteristics that become evident when measurements are being performed within intervals of less than one year (e.g. monthly, weekly or even daily). Mainly knemometry has been used for this purpose, but also very frequent measurements using conventional devices for height measurements.Caino S, Kelmansky D, Adamo P, Lejarraga H., Short-term growth in healthy infants, schoolchildren and adolescent girls, Ann Hum Biol. 2006 Mar-Apr;33(2):213-26 Short-term growth consists of small growth spurts (mini growth spurts). In the human neonate, these spurts occur at intervals of 2 to 10 days, and they reach maximum velocities of up to 0.2 mm per hour at the lower leg. Growth hormone therapies have been shown to significantly alter the dynamics of short-term growth. Catch-up growth (compensatory growth after periods of growth impairment due to illness, starvation and other unfavourable conditions) is characterised by repetitive series of broadened mini growth spurts.

Footnotes

{{reflist Dimensional instruments Games and sports introduced in 1983