ADVANCED BIOMECHANICS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Laboratory Experiments: Anthropometric Measurements and Interpretation
Department of Kinesiology
Michigan State University
I. Introduction
A. Objectives
1. To become familiar with five anthropometric instruments
2. To become aware of common sources of error in anthropometry
3. To use each of the five anthropometric tools in a prescribed manner
4. To develop consistency in the use of the anthropometric tools
B. Instruments
1. Long anthropometer
2. Short anthropometer
3. Bow caliper
4. Tape measure
5. Skinfold caliper
C. Sources of Variation
1. Instruments – Instruments are subject to change resulting from use and
the environment (e.g., tapes stretch, springs lose tension, bow calipers
may lose shape). Instruments should be calibrated against a known
standard before they are used.
2. Position of subject – Reference points must be precisely described.
Subjects must assume well-defined positions to assure accurate data.
3. Position of instrument – Instruments need to be held correctly and
applied to reference points correctly. Standard procedures should be
followed.
4. Selection of measurement site – Anatomical sites must be carefully
described and precisely located. Marking the site(s) on the skin with a
pen is one way to increase agreement between the site description and
instrument application.
5. Diurnal changes – Changes in body volume, shape, and structure occur
because of interaction with the environment during the day. Time of
measurement should be recorded.
6. Observer error – Measurements should be taken in a quiet well-lighted
area. Measurements should be read carefully while the instrument is
still in contact with the subject. The values should be communicated
verbally to the recorder.
7. Recorder errors – Errors can occur during communication or during
the recording process. The recorder should repeat the value received
from the anthropometrist. Care must be taken that the correct value is
recorded. Errors often involve transposing numbers and recording
scores in the wrong space.
8. Fatigue – Anthropometry requires precision. Breaks and diversions
may help reduce errors caused by fatigue.
*Above portion of handout prepared by Dr. John Haubenstricker.
II. Data Collection
Each student is responsible for making all measurements included on the Anthropometric Data Collection Forms on all classmates. In addition, one maximum grip strength measure for the dominant hand is to be made by each student and recorded with forearm girth on the Maximum Grip Strength Record Form.
III. Results and Conclusions:
The Results and Conclusions are the responses to the questions that follow. They are to be written in a scientific format using references (e.g., required and supplemental readings, anthropometry research studies) to support and/or refute the results of the laboratory experiments. Figures and tables must be labeled and included in the responses. Responses must be written in an order that follows the order of the questions and must be labeled so that they can easily be matched with the questions and experiments.
Questions:
Experiment 1: Determining the anthropometric values and variability of the
measurements taken
1. Determine the means and standard deviations by gender and by entire
population of the anthropometric parameters measured and report these
parameters in a spread sheet table.
2. Use graphical displays to show the results from 1. above.
Experiment 2: Determining within anthropometrist reliability in taking
anthropometric measures
1. Calculate measurement-remeasurement correlations for each
anthropometric parameter for each anthropometrist. Rank the reliability
of the anthropometrists for each anthropometric measure. Who would
you rate as the best overall anthropometrist? Why?
2. Use all reported measurement-remeasurement correlations reported by
the class members to determine a mean correlation by anthropometric
parameter.
3. Based on the results from 2. above and your experience using the
various anthropometric instruments, draw conclusions on which instrument-measurement combination is likely to be more reliable for anthropometrists.
Experiment 3: Determining between anthropometrists reliability in taking
anthroometric measures
1. Calculate standard deviations for each anthropometric parameter for each subject for each measurement set (i.e., first measurement set and second measurement set) across all anthropometrists (e.g., standard deviation of biacromial breadth measures from all anthropometrists who measured subject 1).
2. Calculate measurement-remeasurement correlations for each anthropometric parameter for each subject across all anthropometrists.
3. What relationship exists between standard deviation and correlation for
each anthropometric parameter for each subject across all
anthropometrists?
4. What relationship exists between the mean standard deviation and mean
correlation for each type of anthropometric measurement?
Experiment 4: Determining a relationship between an anthropometric measure and
another parameter
1. Determine the means and standard deviations by gender and population
of the grip dynamometer measures of maximum grip strength.
2. Determine the means and standard deviations by gender and population
of the forearm girths.
3. Calculate the correlations between grip dynamometer measures of
maximum grip strength and forearm girths by gender and population.
Use mean values for each subject if more than one measure was taken
for grip strength and/or forearm girth.
4. Based on the results from 3. above and your knowledge of anatomy,
logically support or refute the concept of physiological cross sectional
area.
Review of Statistical Calculations
Pearson Product Moment Correlation =
where and represent the paired elements and is the number of pairs of elements.
Standard Deviation (Std.) =
where is each value of the parameter, is the average value of all elements of the parameter, and is the number of elements. Note that is used in the denominator because the elements are only part of the entire population of possible elements. If measures were conducted on the entire population, would be used as the denominator.
Anthropometric Data Collection Form 1
Anthro-pometist / Subject No. / Bow CaliperBiacromial Breadth
(cm.mm) / Short Anthropometer
Hand Length
(cm.mm) / Long Anthropometer
Standing Height
(cm.mm) / Tape Measure
Forearm Girth
(cm.mm) / Skinfold Caliper
Triceps Skinfold
(0.5mm)
1 / 2
3
4
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
2 / 1
3
4
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
3 / 1
2
4
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
4 / 1
2
3
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
5 / 1
2
3
4
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
6 / 1
2
3
4
5
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
7 / 1
2
3
4
5
6
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
Anthropometrist Mean Corr.: / R = / R = / R = / R = / R =
Anthropometric Data Collection Form 2
Anthro-pometist / Subject No. / Bow CaliperBiacromial Breadth
(cm.mm) / Short Anthropometer
Hand Length
(cm.mm) / Long Anthropometer
Standing Height
(cm.mm) / Tape Measure
Forearm Girth
(cm.mm) / Skinfold Caliper
Triceps Skinfold
(0.5mm)
2 / 1
3
4
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
1 / 2
3
4
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
1 / 3
2
4
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
1 / 4
2
3
5
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
1 / 5
2
3
4
6
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
1 / 6
2
3
4
5
7
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
1 / 7
2
3
4
5
6
Mean:
Std.:
Correlation: / r = / r = / r = / r = / r =
Mean Std.:
Mean Cor. / R = / R = / R = / R = / R =
Maximum Grip Strength Record Form
(dominant hand)
Student Name / Maximum Grip Strength(kg force) / Forearm Girth
(cm.mm)
Females
Female Mean (sd):
Males
Male Mean (sd):
Population Mean (sd):