Brachial Perimeter

Definition

Measure of the circumference of the arm at the level of the midpoint between the shoulder and the elbow. It is a simple anthropometric indicator of muscle mass evaluation and nutritional status.

How it works

Brachial perimeter is measured on the non-dominant arm, at the midpoint between the acromion and the olecranon, with a flexible measuring tape. This measure reflects mainly the muscle mass of the arm and may indicate a state of malnutrition when it is low. It is particularly useful in contexts where weighing is not possible or reliable. It is a simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive tool that complements clinical nutritional assessment.

Role

Anthropometric indicator of muscle mass and overall nutritional status.

Examples

• Evaluation in the elderly. Nutritional follow-up in hospital settings. Malnutrition screening in general medicine. Evaluation in mobilized patients.

Recommendations

Regularly measure brachial perimeter in nutritional follow-up of high-risk populations. A decrease of more than 5% in a month may indicate significant muscle loss requiring nutritional intervention.

Key takeaway

Brachial perimeter is a simple anthropometric marker for detecting muscle mass loss and evaluating the risk of malnutrition.

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