Correlation of height and maximum overhead reach of a person in the forensic scenario: A study among the North Indian population

Abstract This study formulated a regression equation to estimate the maximum overhead reach of a person using his/her height. Height and maximum overhead reach of participants aged 21–30 years were measured. A regression equation was formulated to find the relation between height and maximum overhead reach. The regression equation to estimate maximum overhead reach from height for all the participants was calculated to be 1.46×h+0.02. Based on sex, for males, the equation was 1.40×h+11.22, and for females it was 1.22×h+33.34. Coefficients of determination for these equations were 0.89, 0.76 and 0.80, respectively, with a p-value of <0.001 for all of them. This study showed that there is a positive correlation between height and maximum overhead reach. The formulated equation can estimate maximum overhead reach within ±6 cm for 80% of all the participants and, based on sex, within ±6 cm for 80% of males and within ±5 cm for 80% of females. This estimation is useful in scenarios, such as hanging, where the maximum overhead reach of a person is in question