1. Instructor: Dr. Richard Ward
BPK 303
Kinanthropometry
Spring 2015
Instructor: Dr. Richard Ward

2. Kinanthropometry
The quantification of Body Size, Shape, Proportion and Composition to describe or explain Function, Growth, Maturation and Performance.
Defined by William D. (Bill) Ross in the 1970’s to to bring together scientists who appeared to be working in quite disparate areas but whose studies had tremendous relevance to each other.

3. International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry
(ISAK) website home page

4. Simple but expensive equipment
Anthropometry
Simple but expensive equipment
Anthropometer $1400
Harpenden Skinfold Caliper > $200

5. Inexpensive Alternatives
Anthropometry
Inexpensive Alternatives
Woodworkers Tape with Pencil Holder
$16
Slim Guide Skinfold Caliper
$35

6. Anthropometric Conventions
Standardized Techniques
Anthropometric Conventions
I.S.A.K. - International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry
I.B.P. - Internationl Biological Programme
In House Standardization
Do not trust the name of the measurement
Check the original description

7. Anthropometry Standardized techniques valid reliable calibration
measurement error
objectivity

8. Which Variables to Measure?
Comprehensive
Do not reduce the number of measures just to save time
Specific
Tailor the data collection to the hypothesis

9. Landmarking Reference to bone landmarks
Skin moves relative to the bone so that the pose of the subject is important
Horizontal lines
Not crosses or dots

10. Professional Approach
Informed Consent
Training increases validity & confidence
Honour subject’s personal space
Take adequate measures to minimize error
Recorder
Data Sheet
Data Transmission
Legible Recording

11. Lab Reports 2 Lab Reports Lab Report 1 10% Lab Report 2 20%
Calculation and interpretation from individual and group data
Must be written in required format

12. BPK303
Anthropometry
Spring 2015

13. Anthropometric Measures Fall 2014

14. Anthropometric Equipment

15. short horizontal lines Standard Landmarking & Measurement Position
Anthropometry
Landmarks must be
short horizontal lines
Landmarking necessary for repeatability of measures
Only a few landmarks are required for the measures used in this course
Standard Landmarking & Measurement Position

16. Stretch Stature (Height)
Head held in Frankfort Plane
Requires two people to measure
Feet together
Stretch justified as overcoming diurnal variation
Check for heel lifting (especially in children)

17. Variability of Height Height can vary up to 2.5cm a day or more
Compression of the intervertebral discs occurs
Lost height can be restored with fetal curls

18. Weight Fluctuation Calibrated scale
Beam balances tend to hold calibration longer
OMRON Scale and Body Composition Analyzer

19. Skinfolds
Parallel fold of double thickness of skin plus subcutaneous adipose tissue
Caliper applied perpendicular to the fold
Fold held firmly by left hand while full pressure is applied by caliper
2 second timing until reading
Skinfolds can be measured at any site where there is a loose junction between subcutaneous adipose tissue and the underlying fascia.

20. Skinfold Calipers Slim Guide Caliper Pressure? Harpenden Lange
Spring Tension / Jaw Surface Area
Harpenden
10 gm.mm-2
Lange
35 gm.mm-2
11.4 gm.mm-2
Harpenden
Slim Guide
Lange
Fatometer
Adipometer

21. Skinfold Calipers Harpenden Lange SlimGuide FatoMeter Adipometer
Precision greater than necessary.
Delicate
Stays calibrated for a long time
Expensive
> $200
GOLD STANDARD
Small jaw surfaces that pivot
Calibration wanders
> $150
ABS Plastic
Robust
Inexpensive
$35
Plastic
Fragile
Parallel jaw surfaces
Weak Springs
Inexpemsive
< $20
Single piece of molded plastic
Uses elastic properties of plastic to exert constant tension
It Works!
< $10

22. Skinfold Descriptions
Subscapular Skinfold
the caliper distance when applied one centimeter distally from the left thumb and index finger raising a fold beneath the inferior angle of the scapula in a direction running obliquely downwards at an angle determined by the natural lines of tension in the skin. The pick up can be made consistent by placing the little finger of the left hand on the angle of the scapula then placing the index finger just to the right of it and the thumb just below it.
Site

23. Girths
Circumference perpendicular to the long axis of the body segment
Tape should be touching but not indenting skin
Cross-handed technique

24. Compressive Clothing Effect
GIRTHS
Slim Top
Bra
Nude
Sports Bra
Swim Suit
Chest (meso)
97.6
98.0 -
99.3
98.2
Chest (max)
97.5
98.9
95.6
96.8
2 cm could be 10 – 15% point shift in percentile rating
 GIRTHS
Yoga Pants
Underwear
Fitted Shorts
Compression Shorts
Loose Shorts
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 % point shift in percentile rating

25. Projected Heights Perpendicular distance from floor to landmark
Tibiale Height usually measured standing although sometimes used seated for disabled populations.
Derived length = difference between two projected heights

26. Direct Lengths
From landmark to landmark

27. Bone Widths & Breadths
Caliper type and placement specific to measurement
Press firmly while measurement is made
Vernier Scale

28. Validity & Reliability
Unreliable
Not Valid
Reliable
Not Valid
Unreliable
Valid?
Reliable
Valid

29. Measurement Reliability
How do you quantify reliability?
Is a correlation coefficient adequate?
Technical Error of Measurement?

30. Correlation Coefficient: Poor indicator of reliability
A high correlation between trials does not necessarily indicate reliability unless slope is 1 and intercept is 0.
Means of trials 1 and 2 would be different. Paired t-test with no sig. diff. between means with a high correlation would show high reliability. But this would be clumsy analysis.
r = > 0.9
Trial 2
Line of Identity
Trial 1

31. Technical Error of Measurement
Measure of variability between two trials

32. % TEM
To compare the relative reliabilities of measures using different units such as height and weight, a %TEM is used.
%TEM is the absolute TEM divided by the mean of the measurements multiplied by 100.
A dimensionless score that can be compared across measurements.
Also for same measurement when size is an issue

33. % Technical Error of MeasurementII d d2
7.5 8
0.5
0.25 15
15.5
12.5 13
12.9
-0.1
0.01 32 35 3 9
4.5
Sum d2
9.51
TEM
0.89
Mean
14.41
%TEM
6.18

34. Typical Skinfold %TEMs