Anthropometry Laboratory

The Anthropometry Laboratory deals with professional measurements in the field of anthropometry (assessment of descriptive features of the human body) and anthropometry, including both cephalometric measurements (head measurements) and somatometric measurements (measurements of the entire human body excluding the head) in children and adults.

The Anthropometry Workshop staff specializes in measurements in the field of kinematics (sport anthropometry) - this is a scientific specialization dealing with the issues of growth, activity, efficiency and nutrition of the human body based on specific, precise measurements. Kinanthropometric measurements allow for the assessment of the human body in terms of its:

· Size
· Shape
· Proportions
· Composition
· Maturity
· Function

Thanks to the thorough knowledge of the processes of growth and somatic development of children and adolescents and meeting the highest standards regarding the accuracy and repeatability of measurements performed by the staff of the Anthropometry Laboratory, it can provide services in the scope of objective assessment of a specific athlete, ensuring a reliable measurement of their somatic condition at a given moment. The information obtained will allow coaches to differentiate in quantitative terms somatic changes resulting from the natural development/growth of the body from those resulting from the applied training.

The services provided by the laboratory can constitute a fundamental, objective structural basis in the process of talent selection, monitoring of sports training and analysis of sports achievements.

All anthropometric measurements are performed by a researcher with the accreditation: Level 3 - Instructor anthropometrist ISAK® (The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry). This is the first and currently the only person in Poland with such a high level of accreditation from the most important, international organization setting standards for the accuracy and repeatability of anthropometric measurements. ISAK® Level 3 accreditation confirms the researcher's measurement accuracy and repeatability in 43 measurements of the human body at a level below 7.5% and 5% TEM (Technical Error of Measurement) in the case of skinfold measurement and below 1.5% and 1% TEM in the remaining measurements. The Anthropometry Laboratory performs measurements in children and adults:

· General measurements (body height, body mass, sitting height, arm span)
· Skin and fat fold measurements (triceps, biceps, subscapular, supraspinatus, iliac, abdominal, thigh, calf)
· Body circumference measurements (head, neck, relaxed and tense arm, forearm, wrist, chest, waist, hips, thigh, calf, ankle)
· Segmental length measurements - relative and absolute (arm, forearm, hand, lower limb, thigh, lower leg, foot)
· Body width measurements (shoulders, pelvis, depth and width of the chest, width of the humerus and femur)

Based on the measurements taken, the laboratory offers calculation of the anthropometric somatotype (Heath-Carter), body composition and all anthropometric indicators (such as BMI, WHR, WHtR, body proportion indicators). The results of the measurements and the indicators calculated on their basis will be interpreted by reference to national and/or international population standards or percentile charts (assessment of biological development of children).

In addition, the Anthropometry Laboratory performs:

· body composition measurements using the Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) method using a professional body composition analyzer (Tanita)
· objective assessment of body posture and spine curvatures based on a 3D back scan
· objective assessment of foot arch and static and dynamic loads under the feet (during standing and walking)
· objective assessment of physical activity and sleep quality using accelerometry.

The laboratory is also authorized to conduct ISAK® accredited kinematics courses at the ISAK® Level 1 - Technician restricted profile anthropometrist and ISAK® Level 2 - Technician full profile anthropometrist.