SOMATOTYPING

PUNITA ADAJANIAMODERATOR:DR.SARAVANAN.M

WHAT IS SOMATOTYPING?

Somatotyping Is A System Of Classifying Body Types In Terms Of Three Categories: Endomorphy, Mesomorphy And Ectomorphy

Three Somatotypes, Named After The Three Germ Layers Of Embryonic

Development: The Endoderm(develops Into The Digestive

Tract ), The Mesoderm , (Becomes Muscle, Heart

And Blood Vessels), And The Ectoderm (Forms The Skin And Nervous

System).

The Technique Of Somatotyping Is Used To Appraise Body Shape And Composition

"SOMATOTYPES" AND THEIR SUPPOSED ASSOCIATED PHYSICAL TRAITS

ECTOMORPHIC •Long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage

MESOMORPHIC •medium bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist; usually referred to as “muscular”

ENDOMORPHIC •increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure, usually referred to as “fat”

MEASURING SOMATOTYPE

MOST COMMONLY MEASURED USING THE HEATH-CARTER MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

THREE WAYS OF OBTAINING THE SOMATOTYPE

THE ANTHROPOMETRIC

METHOD

THE PHOTOSCOPIC

METHOD

THE ANTHROPOMETRIC

PLUS PHOTOSCOPIC

METHOD

BODY COMPOSITION

• Body composition refers to the relative proportion of lean body mass (LBM) and body fat mass (BFM) within the body.

• LBM can further be subdivided into: muscle mass, body water, and bone mass.

• These two approaches are commonly referred to as a two-compartment model (LBM and BFM) or a four- compartment model (BFM, muscle mass, body water and bone mass) for assessing body composition.

BODY COMPOSITION The composition of a human body may be considered

from different perspectives.

The human anatomy model divides the body into the following systems:

• muscular • skeletal • adipose tissue (body fat) • the others (inner organs, etc.)

ANATOMY MODEL

CHEMICAL MODEL

The chemical model consists of: • Water• glycogen • fat storage • proteins • minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Cl, Fe, Cu, etc.)

Anthropometric Measurements

Height Weight

Skin fold thickness Body diameter

Body circumference

THE ANTHROPOMETRIC SOMATOTYPE METHOD

Equipment for anthropometry:• stadiometer or height scale and headboard• weighing scale• small sliding caliper• a flexible steel or fiberglass tape measure• a skinfold caliper

TEN ANTHROPOMETRIC DIMENSIONS NEEDED TO CALCULATE THE ANTHROPOMETRIC SOMATOTYPE

• Stretch stature• Body mass• Four skinfolds (triceps, subscapular,

supraspinale, medial calf)• Two bone breadths (biepicondylar humerus

and femur)• Two limb girths (arm flexed and tensed, calf).

FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE BODY COMPOSITION

AGE GENDER

RACE AND ETHNIC GROUP

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

AGE• Many studies have documented an increase in

body weight and percent body fat with increasing age.

• For the majority of people, LBM decreases with age and body fat increases with age, even if body weight does not change.

GENDER• Women have a higher percentage of body fat than do

men.

• “Frisancho” NHANES

• For individuals 25 to 54 years triceps skinfold thicknesses ranged from 11 to 15 mm for men and 19 to 30 mm for women depending on height and weight.

• ranges for subscapular skinfold thicknesses were 13 to 18 mm for men and 12 to 29 mm for women.

RACE AND ETHNIC GROUP

• Differences in body composition based on the socioeconomic status.

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

• Studies conducted by Vogel and Friedl, and separately by Harman and Frykman suggested that excess weight diminishes running performance and that, conversely, lower body weight is associated with relatively better running performance.

• Harman and Frykman smaller, lighter-weight individuals do well with tasks of muscular strength and endurance.

TRADITIONAL VS. NEW METHODS

Traditional methods• Total body water• Total body potassium• Urinary creatinine excretion• Densitometry• Anthropometry: Bone measures , Skinfolds, Arm

circumference

New methods Neutron activation analysis• Total body calcium• Total body nitrogen

Muscle Metabolites• Total plasma creatinine• Endogenous urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion

AbsorptiometrySingle-photon absorptiometryDual-photon absorptiometry

• Electrical conductance:Bioelectrical impedanceTotal body electrical conductivity (TOBEC). • Computerized tomography• Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness• Ultrasound• Infrared interactance• Magnetic resonance imaging• DEXA

Simple measurements or indices:• skinfold thickness• Body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight/

height2)• Waist circumference (WC)

Predictive techniques:

• Skinfold thickness • Bioelectric impedance

BIOELECTRIC IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS

• The principle on which BIA is based is that lean tissue conducts electricity better than does fat tissue.

• Electrodes are placed on the arms and legs, and a low-level current is run through the individual.

• Impedance resistance to the flow of electricity is measured, and the percent body fat is calculated by a formula.

TWO-COMPONENT TECHNIQUES AND MODELS

DUAL ENERGY X RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY: • measure bone mineral mass• calculated from the differential absorption of x rays of two different energies• quick and acceptable for children down to about 4

years, and can also be used in small infants.• Typically used to diagnose and follow osteoporosis• Could be used to measure regional (limb) lean mass• Disadvantage: radiation exposure

DENSITOMETRY(BOD-POD)• The density of the body is measured by weighing the

body in air and under water, with correction made for residual air in the lungs.

• acceptable two-component technique.

• Could provide longitudinal data on both lean and fat mass since its accuracy is less likely to be affected by changes in fatness.

• Does not provide regional data.

SOMATOTYPE AND SPORTS

TRIATHLETE• Triathletes are more muscular than runners but with less leg

development than cyclists and less upper body development than swimmers.

• Low body weight improves the power-to-weight ratio.

HOCKEY • Short legs boost balance and stability, allowing players to

pivot. • They also can prevent back injuries. • Speed and aerobic endurance are musts.

SWIMMERS• Long arms and legs act as levers, allowing swimmers to

produce greater force in the water.• Big hands and feet propel the swimmer faster.

DISTANCE RUNNER • Low body fat levels conserve energy because the runner

carries less weight.• Muscles will ideally be slow twitch (or fatigue resistant),

aiding endurance.

SPRINTER• All over muscle and lower body fat levels give sprinters their

explosive powers• Muscles must be fast twitch(they contract quickly). • Height does not matter, so long as stride length is efficient.

NETBALLER• For mid court players, powerful legs enable leaps to intercept

high passes and sprint speed to chase the ball. • End court players are usually with long arms for shooting and

defending.

WEIGHT LIFTER • Short legs lower the weight lifters centre of gravity (CoG),

improving stability. • Short arms reduce the arc through which the weight must be

lifted.

GYMNAST• Long limbs in relation to the body boost the gymnasts power-

to-ratio. • Low body fat results in better muscle definition.• Broad shoulders and narrow hips promote maximum upper

body strength.

REFERENCES• Body Composition and Physical Performance, Marriott, Bernadette

M.

• The Heath-carter Anthropometric Somatotype, J.E.L. Carter

• Measuring body composition, C K Wells, M S Fewtrell, Arch Dis Child 2006;91:612–617.

• Methods for the assessment of human body composition: traditional and new, Henry C Lukaski, Am J Clin Nutrition 1987;46:537-56

• Body organization and composition.