armspænd

Armspænd is the Danish term for arm span, the distance between the tips of the middle fingers when the arms are extended horizontally to the sides. It is used in anthropometry and ergonomics as a quick proxy for overall body size and proportions.

Measurement is typically performed with the subject standing upright with arms extended outward at shoulder height. A tape measure is placed from the tip of the middle finger on one hand to the tip of the middle finger on the other hand. The tape may run along the back or across the chest, depending on convention, and the measurement is taken with the shoulders level and the arms fully extended but not tensed.

Relation to height is notable: in many populations, armspænd closely tracks height, with arm span approximately equal to height within a few centimeters. Some groups show systematic differences; athletes, gymnasts, or individuals with longer limbs relative to height may have larger armspænd values.

Applications for armspænd include clothing design, ergonomic assessment of workspaces and equipment, and sport science. It is also used in medical contexts where height measurement is impractical or unavailable, and as part of growth assessments, where disproportionate arm span relative to height can indicate certain medical conditions, such as Marfan syndrome.

Limitations include variability by age, sex, and ethnicity, as well as measurement error and individual differences in shoulder posture or limb proportions. See also anthropometry, arm length, height, and arm span.