Lab #8

Estimation of Body Composition from Skinfold Thickness

Nieman DC. Exercise Testing and Prescription: A Health-Related Approach. 6/e. Copyright ©2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Triceps Skinfold

• Triceps - vertical fold; on the posterior midline of the upper arm; halfway between the acromium and olecrannon processes; with the arm held freely to the side of the body.

Abdomen Skinfold• vertical fold; 2-3 cm right lateral of the umbilicus.

Suprailiac Skinfold

•Suprailiac - diagonal fold; in line with the natural angle of the iliac crest taken in the anterior axillary line immediately superior to the iliac crest.

Nieman DC. Exercise Testing and Prescription: A Health-Related Approach. 6/e. Copyright ©2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Thigh Skinfold

Vertical fold; on the anterior midline of the thigh, midway between the proximal border of the patella and the inguinal crease

Nieman DC. Exercise Testing and Prescription: A Health-Related Approach. 6/e. Copyright ©2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Chest Skinfold )• Diagonal fold; one-half the distance between the anterior axillary line (men) or one-third the distance between the axillary line (women) and the nipple

Measurement of SKF Thickness

• All measurements taken on right side• Do not use subjects who are sweaty or have lotion

on their skin• OPTIONAL: Carefully identify, measure and mark

the skinfold site (markings should be with a pen on skin, should be a ‘X’ – each line represents a specific part or the site location)

• Grasp the SKF firmly between the thumb and index finger of your left hand. Lift the fold 1 cm above the site to be measured

• Lift the fold by placing your thumb and index finger 8cm apart on the line that is perpendicular to the long axis of the SKF.

• Keep the fold elevated while you take the measurement• Place the jaws of the caliper perpendicular to the fold,

approx. 1 cm below the thumb and index finger, and release the jaw pressure slowly

• Take the SKF measurement within 1-2 sec• Open the jaws of the caliper to remove it from the site.

Close the jaws slowly to prevent damage or loss of calibration