A high crural index is advantageous to long-jumpers since it enables the jumper to apply a force against the ground for a longer time than someone with a low crural index. Neanderthals had a lower crural index than modern humans. Humans in the tropics tend to have higher crural indexes than humans in the arctics.

So what is your crural index?


Crural index = leg length / tigh lenght

GROUP ............... CRURAL INDEX
Lapp ................ 79%
Eskimo .............. 81.5%
Belgium ............. 82.5%
American White ...... 82.6%
S. African White .... 83.2%
Bushman ............. 83.4%
Yugoslav ............ 83.75%
New Mexico Indian ... 84.6%
Melanesian .......... 84.8%
Egyptian ............ 84.9%
Pygmy ............... 85.1%
American Black ...... 85.25%
Arizona Indian ...... 85.5%
S. African Black .... 86.4%
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