Editing Ape index (section)

== Other sports ==
The term was first coined by Frisbee throwers at UC Berkeley in 1975.

It has been noted that [[swimmers]] tend to have longer arms in relation to their body size.<ref>{{Harvnb|Lavoie|Montpetit|1986|p=168}}.</ref> A notable example is [[Michael Phelps]] whose arm span is 10&nbsp;cm greater than his height, affording him an index of 1.052.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportsgratitude.com/michael-phelps-ape-index/|title=Michael Phelps APE Index|date=3 September 2021 |language=en|access-date=2022-02-27}}</ref>

There is evidence to support that having a higher index will be beneficial to a football goalkeeper {{Citation needed|reason=What evidence|date=March 2018}}. It can also compensate for being shorter than the recommended norm for a professional goalkeeper{{Citation needed|reason=Can it? Cite! Don't assume.|date=March 2018}}. [[Iker Casillas]] and [[Jorge Campos]] are examples of shorter goalkeepers who possess a higher than average index.

In basketball, a higher index helps with defense, especially in contesting shots and intercepting passes {{Citation needed|reason=Does it? Show research. Don't make your own assumptions. Is it the ape index? Is it they are naturally more skilled? The Epstein book does not assert this claim. If it does, reference it directly.|date=March 2018}}. It also helps with rebounding, and with dribbling, passing, and shooting when being guarded closely by opponents. David Epstein in his book ''The Sports Gene'' devoted a chapter to "The Vitruvian NBA Player" and therein noted "The average arm-span-to-height ratio [i.e., ape index] of an NBA player is 1.063."<ref name="Epstein2014">{{cite book|author=David Epstein|title=The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=00eKDQAAQBAJ|date=29 April 2014|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-61723-012-7|pages=134–135}}</ref> Having an ape index of less than 1 is very rare among NBA players; only two players in the NBA 2010–11 season had one.<ref name=Epstein2014 /> One notable NBA player with an ape index below 1 is [[Desmond Bane]], whose wingspan of 6' 4" is less than his height of 6' 5"; he has been nicknamed "T-Rex" for this reason.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vorkunov |first=Mike |title=We're talking about wingspan?! Desmond Bane was overlooked, now he and Ja Morant are leading a Memphis revival |url=https://theathletic.com/3049343/2022/01/06/were-talking-about-wingspan-desmond-bane-was-overlooked-now-he-and-ja-morant-are-leading-a-memphis-revival/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> Despite this perceived deficiency, Bane has become a quality player since being selected 30th overall by the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] in the [[2020 NBA draft]] out of [[TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball|TCU.]]

In combat sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts, having a higher index is often perceived to be beneficial. Fighters such as [[Jon Jones]], whose arm span is 21&nbsp;cm greater than his height, and [[Conor McGregor]] have a longer arm span than most of their opponents. [[Sergei Pavlovich]] is believed to be the active UFC fighter with largest Ape index of 1.115, with a reach of 213 cm while being only 191 cm tall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=J |first=Jeff |date=2021-03-17 |title=How Much Does Height And Reach Matter In Combat Sports? |url=https://mmachannel.com/how-much-does-height-and-reach-matter-in-combat-sports/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=MMA Channel |language=en-US}}</ref> This potentially allows them to use their arm span to hit their opponents, whereas their opponents could not hit them. They often use this in their game plan, by keeping their distance, allowing them to cover up (as longer arms allow for a greater area of protection around the upper body) or use it to counter punch them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/event/UFC182/printFightCard|title=Print Fight Card {{!}} UFC 182 Jones vs. Cormier|website=www.ufc.com|language=en|access-date=2017-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=MindSmash|title=Conor McGregor's Counter Punch {{!}} Breakdown|date=2017-01-23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fzc_kSFO9A|access-date=2017-06-16}}</ref> However, research has shown that the ape index cannot predict who wins or loses MMA bouts, an individual's divisional ranking, or whether or not they are successful in their technique use.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/ssr/25/5-6/article-p334.xml |title=Does Stature or Wingspan Length Have a Positive Effect on Competitor Rankings or Attainment of World Title Bouts in International and Elite Mixed Martial Arts? |last=Kirk |first=Christopher |journal= Sport Science Review |volume=25 |issue=5–6 |date=2016 |pages=334–349 |doi=10.1515/ssr-2016-0018 |s2cid=59027630 |access-date=2018-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181833/https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/ssr/25/5-6/article-p334.xml |archive-date=2018-10-03 |url-status=dead |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://casopisi.junis.ni.ac.rs/index.php/FUPhysEdSport/article/view/2070|title=The Influence of Age and Anthropometric Variables on Winning and Losing in Professional Mixed Martial Arts|journal=Facta Universitatis, Series: Physical Education and Sport|date=8 November 2016|pages=227–236|last1=Kirk|first1=Christopher}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325180899 |title=Does Anthropometry Influence Technical Factors in Professional Mixed Martial Arts? |last=Kirk |first=Christopher |journal=Human Movement |volume=19 |number=2 |date=May 2018 |doi=10.5114/hm.2018.74059|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Small ape indices can also be beneficial. For example, in the [[bench press]], a lifter with shorter arms must move the weight a shorter distance to complete the lift when compared to a lifter with longer arms. Yet there is the fact that a shorter bone will have a shorter muscle therefore the potential mass of the muscle is based on bone length.  In contrast, long arms are an advantage in the [[deadlift]], where longer arms reduce the range of motion required to complete the lift.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is a Bench Press Affected by Arm Length? |url=https://www.livestrong.com/article/458669-is-a-bench-press-affected-by-arm-length/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=LIVESTRONG.COM |language=en}}</ref>