Calculating Frame Size
To calculate your client’s frame size:
- Determine your client’s height in inches.
- Using the client’s assessment information from our skeletal breadth and girth measurements section; locate your client’s elbow size. If there is a difference between the left and right side of the body, select the larger measurement. If there was an injury at this measurement site in the past that has influenced the bone growth use the measurement for the non-effected side.
Using the chart below, ensure you are using the correct table for your client, either Male or Female, then locate their height, and then check the elbow measurement range.
| Male
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
Female
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
| 62-63 | 2 ½ – 2 ⅞ | 58-59 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 64-67 | 2 ⅝ – 2 ⅞ | 60-63 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 68-71 | 2 ¾ – 3 | 64-67 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| 72-73 | 2 ¾ – 3 ⅛ | 68-71 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| >73 | 2 ⅞ – 3 ¼ | >71 | 2 ½ – 2 ¾ |
- If the client is below the measurement on the chart, they have a small frame
- If the client’s measurement is between the range provided, they have a medium frame
- If the client is above the measurement on the chart, they have a large frame
Examples of Determining Frame Size
Example 1
Your client is a male who is 65 inches tall, and has an elbow measurement of 3 inches. Using the table below, you will notice that their Elbow measurement falls ABOVE the range of 2 ⅝ – 2 ⅞, therefore our client has a LARGE frame
| Male
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
Female
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
| 62-63 | 2 ½ – 2 ⅞ | 58-59 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 64-67 | 2 ⅝ – 2 ⅞ | 60-63 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 68-71 | 2 ¾ – 3 | 64-67 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| 72-73 | 2 ¾ – 3 ⅛ | 68-71 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| >73 | 2 ⅞ – 3 ¼ | >71 | 2 ½ – 2 ¾ |
Example 2
Your client is a female who is 69 inches tall, and has an elbow measurement of 2.5 inches. Using the table below, you will notice that their Elbow measurement falls between the range of 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝, therefore our client has a MEDIUM frame
| Male
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
Female
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
| 62-63 | 2 ½ – 2 ⅞ | 58-59 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 64-67 | 2 ⅝ – 2 ⅞ | 60-63 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 68-71 | 2 ¾ – 3 | 64-67 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| 72-73 | 2 ¾ – 3 ⅛ | 68-71 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| >73 | 2 ⅞ – 3 ¼ | >71 | 2 ½ – 2 ¾ |
Example 3
Your client is a male who is 74 inches tall, and has an elbow measurement of 2.5 inches. Using the table below, you will notice that their Elbow measurement falls below the range of 2 ⅞ – 3 ¼, therefore our client has a SMALL frame
| Male
(height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
Female (height in inches) |
Elbow
(inches) |
| 62-63 | 2 ½ – 2 ⅞ | 58-59 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 64-67 | 2 ⅝ – 2 ⅞ | 60-63 | 2 ¼ – 2 ½ |
| 68-71 | 2 ¾ – 3 | 64-67 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| 72-73 | 2 ¾ – 3 ⅛ | 68-71 | 2 ⅜ – 2 ⅝ |
| >73 | 2 ⅞ – 3 ¼ | >71 | 2 ½ – 2 ¾ |
Calculating frame size will be important information as we move on to Bio-electrical Impedance Analysis tools, as some assessment techniques utilize frame size to help with body fat predictions and suggestions for body composition goals.