The following growth utility programs have been developed by members of the Saskatchewan Childhood Growth and Development (SCGD) Research Group based in the College of Kinesiology, at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The group has over 40 years experience of working with pediatric populations. High-precision instruments are used to measure both anthropometric (measures of height and other dimensions in humans) and body composition measurements as a child grows. One of the major research focuses has been on the process of maturation and its assessment. Researchers from the group produce a number of publications each year. A list of publications can be found here.
During childhood and adolescence, individuals of the same chronological age differ considerably in biological maturity (the progress towards the biologically mature state). To fully understand the growth and maturation process individual children have to be measured continually over successive years (Longitudinal Studies). The SCGD research group has undertaken two such studies: The Saskatchewan Growth and Development Study (SGDS) and the Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study (PBMAS). The SGDS initially ran from 1964 to 1973 with follow-up measures in 1980 and 1998/99. The PBMAS initially ran from 1991 to 1997 with follow-up measures from 2002 through to 2005.
Data from these two studies have been used to develop equations that predict a child's biological maturity (age from peak height velocity) and their adult height.
Data from the PBMAS has been combined with other longitudinal data sets to develop equations that predict a child's bone mineral content (BMC). If an actual value of BMC is known a z-score is calculated to provide a normative comparison with the actual measurement. The four BMC sites are: Total body BMC (TBBMC), Total Femoral Hip BMC (TFHBMC), Femoral Neck BMC (FNBMC), and Lumbar Spine L1-L4 (LSBMC).
- Prediction of Age of Peak Height Velocity
- Prediction of Adult Height During Adolescence
- Prediction Standards of Bone Mineral Contact at Specific Sites
For More information please contact: Dr. Adam Baxter-Jones
Disclaimers:
- This utility is designed for use in pediatric populations between the chronological age range of 8 to 16 in females and 9 to 18 in males and a maturity age range of -4 to + 4 years from peak height velocity. Any predictions outside these age ranges will be associated with a degree of error in the prediction and therefore will not be calculated.
- Accuracy of the measurements input into the predictions is of paramount importance, especially for the variable sitting height. Large measurement error will be associated with a degree of error in the prediction. (For a description of measurements methods, please see the Measurements Protocol page.)
- Prediction of age at peak height velocity is only appropriate prior to the event and two years after the event. In boys this is roughly between 12 and 16 years and for girls 9 to 13 years. The further away from the event the greater the error in the prediction.
- Predictive equations for age at peak height velocity and adult height are based on a normal, white Caucasian population. Predictions in other races may be associated with a degree of error in the prediction.
- Prediction of Bone Mineral Content (BMC) at the four bone sites provides specific racial equations (Caucasian, Asian, Black and Hispanic) for a Hologic QDR-4500 instrument only.
- This utility will only work if the 'Date of Test' is earlier than the current date and time in the Central/Mountain time zone. The current date and time is 12-Mar-15, 09:53 AM