Differences in Calves’ Shape and Circumference Profiles between Chinese Males and Females

Abstract

Functional garments are required to be closely and properly fitted on diverse human limbs. However, most manufacturers classify their products based on a number of anthropometric statistical parameters of Caucasian body sizes. This work focuses on the diversities in the real curved shapes, and their detailed anatomy characteristics, for Chinese people. Differences in the 3D-scanned human calves’ shapes and circumference profiles between Chinese male and female subjects were identified through primary component analysis, extracted, and compared. Results show that calves of males were longer in length, straighter, and had a larger circumference within the belly of gastrocnemius, while females were found to have shorter overall length, more bent, and had a smaller gastrocnemius. Females had a larger averaged circumference. The focus of this study was on the size design of compression stockings.