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Advanced Biomechanics of Physical Activity (KIN 831)
ANTHROPOMETRY
Description of Measures
Bow Caliper
Biacromial Breadth: The subject stands erect
with the back to the examiner. The body weight
is evenly distributed on both feet, which are
shoulder width apart. The acromion processes
are palpated with the index fingers. One end of
the bow caliper is placed on the lateral edge of
one acromiom process. The other end of the
caliper is then placed on the lateral edge of the
other acromion process. The ends of the bow
calipers should be pointing forward and slightly
upward when the measurement is made. At the
time of measurement, the subject is requested to
exhale and relax the shoulders.
Biiliac Breadth: The subject stands erect with
the back to the examiner. Body weight is evenly
distributed on both feet, which are shoulder
width apart. The iliac crests are palpated with
the index fingers. The ends of the bow caliper
are placed on the lateral sides of the crests at the
points that result in the greatest hip breadth. The
caliper is held in a transverse plane. Pressure is
applied to the ends of the caliper to compress the
skin and adipose tissue.
Femur Width: From a standing position, the
subject places the right foot on a bench so that a
right angle is formed at the knee with the thigh
horizontal and the leg vertical. The points on the
distal end of the femur located most lateral to the
median plane of the bone (i.e., condyles) are
palpated. The ends of the bow caliper then are
applied to these points so that the plane of the
caliper bisects the angle of the knee joint.
Humerus Width: In a standing position, the
subject raises the right arm forward to about the
level of the shoulder joint (palm up). The elbow
is then flexed to form a right angle. The points
on the distal end of the humerus located most
lateral to the medial plane of the bone (i.e.,
epicondyles) are palpated. The ends of the bow
caliper then are applied to these points so that the
plane of the caliper bisects the angle of the elbow
joint.
Short Anthropometer
Upper Extremity Length: The subject stands
erect with both upper extremities fully extended
at the side of the body and the palms positioned
medially. The anthropometer is placed in the
sagittal plane. The distance from the top of the
lateral projection of the superior portion of the
humerus (just below the lateral projection of the
acromion) to the distal end of the middle finger
is measured.
The stationary end of the
anthropometer is held at the finger tip while the
moving end is positioned on the humerus.
Hand Length: The forearm is extended in a
horizontal position with the palm upward. The
fingers are extended so that they are in direct line
with the central axis of the forearm. The short
anthropometer is applied from the lateral side of
the forearm with the stationary blade placed on
the skinfold crease that runs from the distal
border of the radius across the wrist in a
direction perpendicular to the long axis of the
forearm.
The moveable blade of the
anthropometer is brought in contact with the
distal fingertip of the third digit.
Knee Width: From a standing position the
subject places the right foot on a bench so that a
right angle is formed at the knee with the thigh
horizontal and the leg in a vertical position. The
blades of the anthropometer are applied to the
medial and lateral most margins of the tibial
condyles so that the blades of the anthropometer
bisect the angle formed by the thigh and leg.
Long Anthropometer
Standing Height: The subject stands erect with
body weight evenly distributed on both feet.
Heels are placed together and in contact with the
wall. The wall should be free of molding and
form a right angle with the floor. Arms hang
freely at the sides of the body. The head is
positioned in the Frankfort plane.
The
anthropometer is positioned parallel to the wall
in the midfrontal plane and perpendicular to the
floor. The sliding bar of the anthropometer is
brought down on the vertex of the head with
sufficient pressure to depress the hair. The head
is stabilized by placing the hand under the
subject’s jaw.
Sitting Height: The subject sits on a bench with
the hips and back against the wall. The height of
the bench is adjusted so that the knees are at a
right angle and the feet are flat on the floor. The
subject stretches upward as much as possible
without contracting the muscles of the buttocks
or thighs. The anthropometer is positioned in the
midfrontal plane, parallel to the wall. The head
is stabilized and positioned in the Frankfort
plane by placing the hand under the subject’s
jaw. The sliding bar of the anthropometer is
brought down on the vertex of the head with
sufficient pressure to depress the hair.
Trochanteric Height: The subject stands with
the feet shoulder width apart, hands crossed in
front of the body, and body weight evenly
distributed on both feet. The anthropometer is
positioned in the sagittal plane and perpendicular
to the floor.
The sliding bar of the
anthropometer is lowered to the proximal head of
the greater trochanter (previously marked with a
body pencil).
Steel Tape
Biceps Girth: The subject stands with the right
arm abducted, elbow flexed, and the forearm
supinated. The tape is positioned around the
arm. The subject is then requested to clench the
fist, fully flex the elbow and contract the biceps
as strongly as possible. The tape is then
positioned so that it is perpendicular to the long
axis of the arm and located at the place of
maximum circumference.
Neck Girth: The subject stands or sits erect
with the head in the Frankfort plane. The tape is
placed just below the thyroid cartilage, which
results in a slight downward slope of the tape,
from back to front, in most subjects.
Abdominal (Waist) Girth: The subject stands
erect, with the feet together and arms at the sides.
The tape is placed laterally, midway between the
lowest lateral portion of the rib cage and the iliac
crest and, anteriorly, midway between the
xyphoid process of the sternum and the
umbilicus. This is the “natural” waist and should
result in the minimal abdominal circumference
of this region.
Thigh Girth: The subject stands erect, feet at
shoulder width and body weight distributed
evenly on them. The arms are crossed in front of
the body. The horizontal circumference of the
right thigh is measured, from the side, at its
greatest diameter, slightly below the level of the
gluteal furrow. Thigh should be relaxed.
Note that picture shows thigh
girth measured in a bent knee
position:
Forearm Girth: The subject stands erect, with
the right arm abducted to the side horizontal
position and the palm facing forward. The tape
is positioned perpendicular to the long axis of the
limb at the place of maximum circumference.
Note that picture shows forearm
girth measured in a bent elbow
position:
Calf Girth: The subject stands erect, feet at
shoulder width and body weight distributed
evenly on them. Horizontal circumference of
the right calf is measured, from the side, at the
level of its maximum circumference. Calf
should be relaxed.
Note that picture shows calf girth
measured in a bent knee position:
Skinfold Caliper
Subscapular Skinfold: The subject stands erect
with the arms relaxed at the sides of the body.
An oblique fold of skin is raised just below the
inferior angle of the scapula on the right side of
the body. (The direction of the fold is downward
laterally.)
The caliper is applied midway
between the crest and base of the fold and
perpendicular to the midline of the fold.
Triceps Skinfold: The subject stands erect with
the arms relaxed at the sides of the body. A
vertical fold of skin is raised midway between
the olecranon and acromion processes on the
posterior side of the right arm. The caliper is
applied midway between the crest and base of
the fold, perpendicular to the midline of the fold.
Biceps Skinfold: The subject stands erect with
the arms relaxed at the sides of the body. A
vertical fold of skin is raised on the anterior side
of the right upper arm, midway between the
shoulder and elbow joints. The caliper is applied
midway between the crest and the base of the
fold and perpendicular to the midline of the fold.
Supraliliac Skinfold: The subject stands erect
with the right arm moved forward or across the
front of the body. A fold of skin is raised
approximately one and one-half inches above the
right anterior superior iliac spine so that the fold
runs slightly downward, medially. The caliper is
applied midway between the crest and the base
of the fold and perpendicular to the midline of
the fold.
Thigh Skinfold: The subject stands erect with
the body weight supported by the left leg. The
right leg is held in a relaxed position with the
knee slightly flexed and the ankle in slight
plantar flexion. An anterior fold of skin running
parallel to the long axis of the thigh is raised
midway between the hip and knee joints. The
caliper is applied midway between the crest and
base of the fold and perpendicular to the midline
of the fold.
Calf Skinfold: From a standing position, the
subject places the right foot on a bench. A fold
of skin running parallel to the long axis of the
right leg, just above maximum calf
circumference, is raised on the medial side of the
calf. The caliper is applied midway between the
crest and the base of the fold and perpendicular
to the midline of the fold.