A correction for the natural asymmetry of the arms in the determination of the volume of oedema

Abstract

In 60 right-handed women, significant asymmetry of arm volume has been found, the right arm being, on average, the larger by 1.6 per cent. In 26 ambidextrous and 19 left-handed women the right arm was smaller than the left one by 0.1 and 1.4 per cent respectively. These values differed from zero at low levels of significance. In an early stage of oedema for correcting the error incurred in the estimation of arm volume by asymmetry the regression equation of the form VC = kVM + m is proposed where VC and VM are the volumes of the calculated--oedematous arm in its pre-oedematous state and the unaffected arm, respectively, k and m are constants, which were determined from measurements on samples of the righthanded, ambidextrous and left-handed women. A simplified equation of the form VR = VL + mo where VR and VL are the volumes of the right and left arms, respectively is proposed.