Calibrating skinfold calipers. 1995

C J Gore, and S M Woolford, and R G Carlyon
National Sports Research Centre, Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, Adelaide.

While athletes are routinely assessed for changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue with skinfold calipers, absolute dynamic calibration of caliper jaw compression is currently not possible. The first part of this study describes how dynamic compression of foam rubber blocks can be used to monitor the relative calibration of a single pair of calipers as springs fatigue, or to alert an investigator to variations in measurement values between different calipers. The second part of the study, carried out on 10 female athletes, demonstrated that the significant differences established by the foam block method of calibration also translated into a significant difference for the sum of seven subcutaneous skinfolds. Foam blocks can be used as a simple, inexpensive method to establish a calibration range and can also be used to recheck calipers periodically, depending upon their use.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002138 Calibration Determination, by measurement or comparison with a standard, of the correct value of each scale reading on a meter or other measuring instrument; or determination of the settings of a control device that correspond to particular values of voltage, current, frequency or other output. Calibrations
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012885 Skinfold Thickness The measurement of subcutaneous fat located directly beneath the skin by grasping a fold of skin and subcutaneous fat between the thumb and forefinger and pulling it away from the underlying muscle tissue. The thickness of the double layer of skin and subcutaneous tissue is then read with a caliper. The five most frequently measured sites are the upper arm, below the scapula, above the hip bone, the abdomen, and the thigh. Its application is the determination of relative fatness, of changes in physical conditioning programs, and of the percentage of body fat in desirable body weight. (From McArdle, et al., Exercise Physiology, 2d ed, p496-8) Skinfold Thicknesses,Thickness, Skinfold,Thicknesses, Skinfold
D013178 Sports Medicine The field of medicine concerned with physical fitness and the diagnosis and treatment of injuries sustained in exercise and sports activities. Medicine, Sport,Medicine, Sports,Sport Medicine

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