A preliminary test of Pearson's formula for estimation of height of Sri Lankans.

The validity of Pearson's formula for estimation of height from the length of bones, has not been tested for Sri Lankan populations. Such a validation was attempted on 27 male cadavers using the recumbent heel to vertex height, and the physiological femoral length. The standard Pearson's formula was found to contain an error in the tested population. Based on these findings, a new formula was therefore evolved where S = 27.48 + 3.08F (as opposed to S = 81.306 + 1.88F in the standard formula). The new formula will be tested further on a larger sample, with a view to making further indicated adjustments.