3.4. Correlations
Spearman’s rank order correlations were examined
amongst several variables in an effort to determine if there
were any relationships between dependent variables or
amongst potential correlates. Raw dependent variable
outcomes included significant correlation (po0:05) between
mean and peak pressure outcomes (r ¼ 0:63), with
little to no correlation between either mean or peak
pressures and active cell counts (analogous to contact
surface area). The pressure factor was moderately but
significantly correlated with participant mass (r ¼ 0:42)and participant stature (r ¼ 0:38), with weak but significant
correlations observed for BMI (r ¼ 0:33) and RPI
(r ¼ 0:21). Moderate significant correlations were observed
between active cell counts and participant BMI
(r ¼ 0:62), mass (r ¼ 0:61), RPI (r ¼ 0:5) and stature
(r ¼ 0:48).