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Sum of Skinfold Tests

 

DURNIN & WOMERSLY 4 SITE

 

Equipment:

 

• Skin Calipers e.g Harpenden Skinfold Caliper

 

Testing Procedure:

 

The four sites to be measured are:

 

TRICEPS – at the back of the upper left arm

 

With the subject’s left arm flexed at 90?, locate the mid point between the tip of the shoulder and the tip of the elbow on the back of the upper arm.  Grasp the skinfold with your thumb and index finger and apply firm pressure, lifting the skinfold directly away from the arm.  Ask the subject to lower the forearm and apply the caliper jaws to the site.  Release the spring handle fully and read the measurement to the nearest 1mm after the full pressure of the caliper jaws has been applied and the drift of the scale has ceased.

Repeat the measurement – and if a variation of more than 1mm is noted a third reading should be taken and the average of the closest pair recorded.

 

BICEPS – on the front of the upper left arm

 

With the subject’s left arm hanging loosely, grasp the skinfold with thumb and index finger midway between the tip of the shoulder and the tip of the elbow on the front of the upper arm.  Lift the skinfold directly away from the

arm, apply the caliper jaws, release the spring handle fully and record the skinfold thickness to the nearest 1mm when the drift of the scale has ceased.  Repeat the measurement and if a variation of more than 1mm is noted a third reading should be taken and the average of the closest pair recorded.

 

 

 

 

SUBSCAPULARIS – below the shoulder blade

 

With the subject standing relaxed with the arms down at the sides, grasp the skinfold at the lower tip of the left shoulder blade (scapula) with the crease being about 450.  Apply the caliper jaws, release the spring handle foully and record the skinfold thickness to the nearest 1mm when the drift of the scale has ceased.  Repeat the measurement and if a variation of more than 1mm is noted a third reading should be taken and the average of the closest pair recorded.

 

 

SUPRIALLIAC – at the left side of the waist

 

With the subject standing relaxed with the arms down at the sides, grasp the skinfold at the side of the waist, just above the pelvis (pelvic or iliac crest).  Apply the caliper jaws, release the spring handle fully and record the skinfold thickness to the nearest1mm when the drift of the scale has ceased.  Repeat the measurement and if a variation of more than 1mm is noted a third reading should be taken and the average of the closest pair recorded.

 

 

 

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YMCA SKINFOLD

 

Introduction:

 

Previously, body fat was measured using an underwater weighing or displacement technique and this provides the “gold standard” against which other methods are judged.  The results of underwater weighing were compared with a variety of skinfold measurements for the same people and a mathematical relationship between the two was calculated.  We use this relationship to obtain a fat percentage from clipper measurements.

 

4 Site Test Procedure

 

The four sites to be measured are:

 

• ABDOMEN – at the left side of the umbilicus
• SUPRAILIAC -  at the left side of the waist
• TRICEPS – at the back of the upper left arm
• THIGH - At the front of the thigh

 

3 Site Test Procedure

 

The three sites to be measured are:

 

• ABDOMEN – at the left side of the umbilicus
• SUPRAILIAC - at the left side of the waist
• TRICEPS – at the back of the upper left arm

 

 

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JACKSON & POLLOCK TECHNIQUE

 

Introduction:

 

Previously, body fat was measured using an underwater weighing or displacement technique and this provides the “gold standard” against which other methods are judged.  The results of underwater weighing were compared with a variety of skinfold measurements for the same people and a mathematical relationship between the two was calculated.  We use this relationship to obtain a fat percentage from clipper measurements.

 

Test Procedure

 

Males

 

The three sites to be measured are:

 

• THIGH - midpoint of the quadriceps
• ABDOMEN – at the left side of the umbilicus
• CHEST – on the pectoral line

 

Females

 

The three sites to be measured are:

 

• TRICEPS – at the back of the upper left arm
• THIGH - midpoint of the quadriceps
• SUPRAILIAC - at the left side of the waist