Circumferential versus Hand-held Laser Scanner Method for the Evaluation of Lower Limb Volumes in Normal-weight and Obese Subjects

Different measures for lower limbs volume computation are available in clinical setting. These measures can be classified according to the equipment used and the data provided. Water displacement is considered the gold standard for limb volume measurement [1-3]. It is based on the Archimedes principle according to which the water volume moved by an object equals the object’s volume and it provides a direct measure of the limb volume. According to this method, the lower extremity is submerged in a tank of water whose displacement is measured to determine the volume of the leg [4]. Despite its accuracy, this method is not commonly used by clinicians for practical reasons.