Wrist circumference in women. Table, norm by body type, how to measure

Wrist circumference is a very important parameter that will be useful not only when buying a bracelet or sewing clothes with long sleeves, but also when determining the body type of women and men. It is important to know how to measure it and what conclusions can be drawn from the result.

Wrist size as an indicator of body type in women

Body type is determined by hereditary factors and is one of the constant parameters for a given person, which neither diet nor training can change. However, knowing this parameter, you can choose the optimal figure correction program, which will allow it to approach the ideal.

One of the main characteristics of body type is bone thickness, which is usually judged by the circumference of the wrist.

This indicator:

• persists during gain or loss of fat and muscle mass;
• does not depend on lifestyle, living conditions, taste preferences.

Body type largely determines:

• metabolic rate, and therefore the rate at which calories are burned;
• possible areas of fat deposits;
• tendency to be overweight or thin;
• the ability to gain muscle mass.

Knowing your body type, you can choose the appropriate diet and exercise routine that will be most effective. Measuring your wrist circumference above the hand is not difficult. To draw the right conclusions from the result, you will need knowledge of women's body types and the characteristics of each.

Wrist circumference norms for women by body type

Wrist circumference for women and men is a value expressed in centimeters, called the “Soloviev index” (SI).

The value is applied in:

• obstetrics in predicting possible complications of pregnancy;
• dietetics in the treatment of obesity;
• sports medicine when developing training plans.

According to this index, there are 3 main somatotypes.

Asthenic type (ectomorphs)

Asthenics (ectomorphs) are considered to be women with an IS of less than 15 and men with an IS of less than 18.

They are characterized by:

• fragile physique;
• long and thin arms and legs;
• narrow shoulders;
• flat chest;
• tall stature.

As a rule, in their youth, people of this type tend to be thin, and have difficulty gaining not only fat, but also muscle mass., which is explained by the high speed of metabolic processes occurring in the body.

But in mature years, despite a weak appetite in the absence of physical activity, fat appears mainly on the stomach. To correct the figure, asthenics will need strength training, which will help develop muscles and a diet with a high protein content.

Tall, thin, with small breasts and narrow hips, women with asthenic body types are considered the ideal of beauty today. However, admirers of other female somatotypes find them too angular and blame them for the lack of femininity.

Normosthenic type (mesomorphs)

Women with a wrist circumference of 15 to 17 cm and men with this parameter in the range of 18 to 20 cm are classified as normosthenics or mesomorphs.

This is a common and most advantageous body type, which is characterized by:

• average height;
• strong, well-developed muscles;
• attractive figure contours.

People of this type:

• mobile and active;
• have a healthy appetite;
• with adequate physical activity, they easily build muscle mass;
• in the absence of exercise, they easily gain weight.

The optimal strategy for a normosthetic who has decided to lose weight is to reduce the consumption of fats and carbohydrates in combination with cardio exercises, aimed at creating a calorie deficit, and strength training to strengthen muscles.

Mesomorph women typically:

• medium height;
• slender;
• have well-developed muscles.

However, the fat layer covering them gives the figure femininity. Thanks to the wide bones, a woman of this somatotype will not look like a skinny asthenic even after several months of a strict diet.

Hypersthenic type (endomorphs)

A hypersthenic person will have a wrist circumference greater than 17 cm (women) and 20 cm (men).

A typical representative of this somatotype:

• below average height;
• the body is massive;
• The neck is short and thick.

Endomorphs are characterized by a slow metabolism., and for this reason they tend to gain weight quickly, but it can be quite difficult for them to lose those extra pounds.

A set of measures aimed at correcting the figure should include exercises that stimulate metabolic processes, as well as a diet with a high content of “slow” carbohydrates and protein with a minimum amount of fat.

Women with this body type:

• short in stature;
• prone to obesity;
• have short legs and arms;
• They are unable to achieve the desired slimness, even by following the most grueling diets.

Fat is mainly deposited in the lower part of the body, which makes the woman feel even more self-conscious about her less than ideal figure.

This is the theory, but in practice everything looks much more complicated: the fact is that in their pure form all the listed body types are rare, in the appearance of the overwhelming majority of people there are features of 2-3 somatotypes, among which one is considered dominant.

Another factor that complicates the process of determining the somatotype is the increasing fat layer with age., smoothing out the differences between body types. But since the wrist circumference remains virtually unchanged, measuring it allows you to bypass all the difficulties.

Where to measure your wrist circumference

The wrist circumference for women and men should be measured at the thinnest part of the hand - in the area of ​​the wrist joint (the tubercle on the outside of the hand, located above the wrist).

On which hand are measurements taken?

The dominant hand (the right hand for right-handed people, the left hand for left-handed people) is always slightly larger, although this is not noticeable to the eye. For this reason, measurements should be taken on it, otherwise errors may occur.

How to Measure Wrist Circumference Correctly for Women

Those who want to determine their somatotype can use a simple method that does not require additional tools: you need to bend your leading hand at the elbow and raise it with the palm up, and then try to grasp its wrist as tightly as possible with the thumb and middle fingers of your other hand.

Possible options:

• fingers overlap each other - a situation typical for asthenics;
• fingers only touch each other - typical for normosthenics;
• there is a gap between the fingers - the person can be classified as hypersthenic.

Unfortunately, the method gives a high error, not taking into account the fact that a person's fingers can be too long or too short. Therefore, more complex measurement methods are often used, allowing for an accurate result:

Using a centimeter

A flexible measuring tape is ideal for this procedure, the main thing is to follow a simple algorithm:

• Place your leading hand on a horizontal surface with the back of your palm facing up.

• Wrap a measuring tape around your wrist once so that it fits snugly against the skin at the thinnest part of the wrist, but does not squeeze your hand or twist.
• The mark that will be present next to the beginning of the tape is the desired value.

It is necessary to make sure that the zero mark is at the very end of the tape. Sometimes the manufacturer makes a small indentation where he fixes a metal bracket protecting the end. In this case, it is necessary to make the appropriate adjustments to the measurements.

If there is no centimeter

Measurements using a flexible tape measure give the most accurate result, but if you don’t have one, you can use a regular ruler and a flexible strip of any material that can replace this “measuring device”.

This could be:

• thread or tape, which should be wrapped around the wrist, and then measure the corresponding segment using a ruler. To get a more accurate result, you can make several turns around the wrist, and then divide the length by their number;
• paper strip: it is wrapped around the wrist in exactly the same way, a mark is made with a pencil in the right place (the joint), then the length of the resulting segment is measured;
• cuff of long sleeve clothing, tightly encircling the wrist. Measurements are taken between the corresponding elements of the fastener (loop and button, two parts of the button), after which 2 cm should be subtracted from the result.

The method does not give an exact value, but can be useful in “field conditions”.

Types and rules of measurements

Wrist circumference for women and men is knowledge that will be needed not only to determine the somatotype, but also when buying (self-sewing) clothes, as well as watches, jewelry, in particular, a bracelet - a fashionable accessory now. The exact values ​​​​of this parameter will help you choose a product that will be most convenient.

The algorithm for measuring wrist circumference in all these cases is not fundamentally different from the one given above, but has its own nuances.

Measurements for a bracelet without a clasp

There are a number of requirements for the bracelet, compliance with which largely depends on its length. This, in turn, is determined based on the circumference of the wrist.

In particular, the decoration should:

• do not slip off your hand on your own;
• easy to put on and take off;
• do not squeeze the wrist;
• do not restrict movement.

When buying in a jewelry store, you always have the opportunity to try on the product, but if you are going to buy it online, you will have to take several measurements yourself:

• the main measurement is the wrist circumference: it should be measured along the wrist joint, and not between it and the hand, as when determining your body type: the difference, although insignificant, is there. Another difference: measurements are taken on the hand for which the jewelry is intended;
• for a bracelet without a clasp, you will also need to measure the volume of your hand, for which press your thumb to your palm and take the measurement at the widest part of your hand;
• When buying a double or triple bracelet, you need to measure your wrist in several places (just above the wrist joint).

Usually this information is enough for the seller to select the right sample: for this, 1-3 cm is added to the wrist circumference.

The specific amount of the increase depends on the following factors:

Factor	Description
Wrist circumference	If the wrist is narrow, the increase should be minimal, otherwise the bracelet will slip off the hand.
The presence or absence of elastic inserts on the bracelet	If they exist, the increase is minimal.
Material of manufacture	For example, massive voluminous stones or wooden, plastic beads will create additional volume and will require a significant increase. Otherwise, the bracelet will be tight. The most difficult thing is to choose the right size for a leather bracelet, since this material can stretch or shrink depending on humidity and operating conditions.
Shape of the bracelet elements	If it consists of large wide fragments, it should cover the hand tightly enough, otherwise the product will lose its decorative effect, and a thin chain is allowed to hang freely from the hand.
Design features	For double and triple bracelets the surcharge is always higher.
Availability and possible number of charms	Small removable pendants: the more of them there are, the larger the diameter of the bracelet should be.
Client's wishes	Some people like the bracelet to fit tightly around their hand, while others, on the contrary, prefer freedom.

The decision regarding the length of the bracelet must be made based on the totality of all these data.

Measurements for bracelets with a clasp with a small margin

To select a bracelet with a clasp, provided that its length is not much greater than the wrist circumference, it is not necessary to measure the palm; otherwise, the algorithm is the same as described above.

As a rule, for thin metal bracelets with locks of the most popular type P-Lock (a clasp in the form of a decorative bead that opens when pressed), the increase in length is approximately 2 cm. For bracelets of other types, the size of its elements and the material of manufacture are taken into account.

If the wrist measurement yields a fractional number, when choosing the length of the bracelet, its design features and the customer's requirements regarding the tightness of the product's fit to the hand are taken into account.

As a rule, all necessary calculations are performed by the seller of jewelry. The buyer is only required to inform him of the wrist circumference, but there may be exceptions. To avoid mistakes, you should clarify this point.

Measurements for knitting gloves, mittens

When knitting gloves and mittens, the main parameter is the circumference of the palm, measured at its widest part (at the base of the fingers). A tight fit of the cuff to the wrist is achieved by using a "rib" knit.

If there is concern that the product will be too tight or too loose around the hand in this area, you can do the following:

1. Measure the circumference of your palm.
2. Knit a test sample using basic knitting.
3. Using a test sample, determine the knitting density (the number of loops in 1 cm of fabric) and calculate the number of loops that need to be cast on.
4. Cast on the required number of stitches onto the knitting needle and knit a few centimeters with an elastic band.
5. Measure the length of the resulting canvas.
6. Measure the circumference of your wrist and compare the obtained values: ideally, they should match (since knitted fabric is elastic, no allowances are required).
7. If necessary, add or subtract a few loops. After the elastic is knitted, do the reverse operation, then knit the product with the main knitting.

In addition to the palm circumference and wrist circumference, to knit mittens you will need to measure the length of your thumb and the distance from its base to the tip of your middle finger. When knitting gloves, everything is a little more complicated.

You will need to take the following measurements (without allowances):

• wrist circumference;
• wrist circumference;
• distance from the wrist to the base of the thumb;
• distance from the wrist to the base of the little finger;
• the distance from the wrist to the base of the middle and index fingers;
• the length of each finger.

All these parameters are needed in the case when you have to knit "in absentia". If the product can be tried on at any time, usually only the wrist circumference is used, which is necessary to calculate the required number of loops, and all other parameters are determined during the fitting.

Wrist measurements for sewing long sleeves

The correct choice of sleeve width is one of the mandatory conditions for the convenience of clothing, its attractive appearance and high heat-saving qualities (the latter is relevant for jackets and coats). When performing the necessary calculations, you need to start from the wrist circumference, which is measured at the wrist joint on the leading hand.

Next, the following types of additions must be made to the result obtained:

• for freedom of fit;
• on the clasp (if any);
• for a warming lining (for demi-season and winter clothing);
• on the seams (directly when cutting the fabric).

Ease allowance, which creates a gap between the arm and the sleeve (or cuff), is needed to ensure freedom of movement.

Its size depends on several factors, in particular:

• types of clothing: shirt, dress, coat;
• its seasonality: for cold or warm seasons;
• silhouette type: fitted, semi-fitted, loose;
• design features: the method of designing the bottom of the sleeve (cuff, without cuff);
• material: in this case, the degree of its elasticity is important;
• the presence or absence of a fastener.

When sewing a men's or women's shirt with cuffs, the following allowances are recommended: ease of fit - 2 cm, fastening - 3 cm, seams - 0.5 cm on each side. With a wrist circumference of 17 cm, the optimal cuff length is 23 cm, for sewing you will need a strip of fabric 24 cm long (taking into account the seam allowance).

Video about measurement

Wrist circumference for women: