1
Anthropometry
Spring 2014
BPK303
Anthropometric Measures Fall 2013
2Spring 2008
Anthropometric Equipment
3Spring 2008
4Spring 2008
Anthropometry
Landmarking necessary forrepeatability of measures
Only a few landmarks arerequired for the measures usedin this course
Standard Landmarking &Measurement Position
Landmarks must be
short horizontal lines
5Spring 2008
Stretch Stature (Height)
Head held in Frankfort Plane
Requires two people to measure
Feet together
Stretch justified as overcomingdiurnal variation
Check for heel lifting (especially inchildren)
6Spring 2008
Variability ofHeight
Height can varyup to 2.5cm a dayor more
Compression ofthe intervertebraldiscs occurs
Lost height canbe restored withfetal curls
7Spring 2008
Weight
Fluctuation
Calibrated scale
Beam balances tend to hold calibration longer
OMRON Scale and Body Composition Analyzer
8Spring 2008
Skinfolds
Parallel fold of double thicknessof skin plus subcutaneousadipose tissue
Caliper applied perpendicular tothe fold
Fold held firmly by left hand whilefull pressure is applied by caliper
2 second timing until reading
Skinfolds can be measured at anysite where there is a loosejunction between subcutaneousadipose tissue and the underlyingfascia.
9Spring 2008
Skinfold Calipers
Slim Guide
Caliper Pressure?
Spring Tension / Jaw Surface Area
Harpenden
10 gm.mm-2
Lange
35 gm.mm-2
Slim Guide
11.4 gm.mm-2
Harpenden
Adipometer
Slim Guide
Fatometer
Lange
10Spring 2008
Skinfold Calipers
Harpenden
Lange
SlimGuide
FatoMeter
Adipometer
Precision greaterthan necessary.
Delicate
Stays calibratedfor a long time
Expensive
> $200
GOLDSTANDARD
Small jaw surfacesthat pivot
Calibrationwanders
Expensive
> $150
ABS Plastic
Robust
Stays calibratedfor a long time
Inexpensive
$35
Plastic
Fragile
Parallel jawsurfaces
Weak Springs
Inexpemsive
< $20
Single piece ofmolded plastic
Uses elasticproperties ofplastic to exertconstant tension
It Works!
< $10
Skinfold Descriptions
Technique
Subscapular Skinfold
the caliper distance when appliedone centimeter distally from the leftthumb and index finger raising a foldbeneath the inferior angle of thescapula in a direction runningobliquely downwards at an angledetermined by the natural lines oftension in the skin. The pick up canbe made consistent by placing thelittle finger of the left hand on theangle of the scapula then placing theindex finger just to the right of it andthe thumb just below it.
Site
12Spring 2008
Girths
Circumferenceperpendicular to the longaxis of the body segment
Tape should be touchingbut not indenting skin
Cross-handed technique
Compressive Clothing Effect
13Spring 2008
GIRTHS
SlimTop
Bra
Nude
Sports Bra
SwimSuit
Chest (meso)
97.6
98.0
-
99.3
98.2
Chest (max)
97.5
98.9
95.6
96.8
97.5
2 cm could be 10 – 15% point shift in percentile rating
GIRTHS
YogaPants
Underwear
FittedShorts
CompressionShorts
SwimSuit
LooseShorts
Gluteal
103.4
104.2
102.1
101.5
102.0
105.6
4 cm could be 20 – 30% point shift in percentile rating
Thigh
62.1
63.0
60.3
62.0
-
-
2.5 cm could be 15 - 20% point shift in percentile rating
14Spring 2008
Projected Heights
Perpendiculardistance from floor tolandmark
Tibiale Height usuallymeasured standingalthough sometimesused seated fordisabled populations.
Derived length =difference betweentwo projected heights
15Spring 2008
Direct Lengths
From landmark to landmark
16Spring 2008
Bone Widths & Breadths
Caliper type and placement specific to measurement
Press firmly while measurement is made
Vernier Scale
Validity & Reliability
17Spring 2008
Unreliable
Not Valid
Unreliable
Valid?
Reliable
Not Valid
Reliable
Valid
18Spring 2008
Measurement Reliability
How do you quantify reliability?
Is a correlation coefficientadequate?
Technical Error of Measurement?
19Spring 2008
Correlation Coefficient: Poor indicator of reliability
A high correlationbetween trials does notnecessarily indicatereliability unless slopeis 1 and intercept is 0.
Means of trials 1 and 2would be different.Paired t-test with nosig. diff. betweenmeans with a highcorrelation would showhigh reliability. But thiswould be clumsyanalysis.
r = > 0.9
Line of Identity
Trial 1
Trial 2
20Spring 2008
Technical Error of Measurement
Measure of variability between two trials
21Spring 2008
% TEM
To compare the relative reliabilities of measures usingdifferent units such as height and weight, a %TEM isused.
%TEM is the absolute TEM divided by the mean of themeasurements multiplied by 100.
A dimensionless score that can be compared acrossmeasurements.
Also for same measurement when size is an issue
22Spring 2008
% Technical Error of Measurement
I
II
d
d2
7.5
8
0.5
0.25
15
15.5
0.5
0.25
12.5
12.5
0
0
13
12.9
-0.1
0.01
32
35
3
9
4.5
4.5
0
0
Sum d2
9.51
TEM
0.89
Mean
14.41
%TEM
6.18
23Spring 2008
Typical Skinfold %TEMs
