Influence Of Anthropometric Measurements Research Articles

Correlations Between Hamstring Muscle Architecture, Maturation, and Anthropometric Measures in Academy Soccer Players.

Muscle architecture is associated with motor performance and muscle injury. While muscle architecture and knee-flexor eccentric strength change with growth, the influence of anthropometric measures on these properties is rarely considered. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hamstring muscle architecture and knee-flexor eccentric strength with anthropometric measurements. Sixty male footballers (16.6 [1.05]y) from the U16, U17, and U19 teams of an elite soccer club were included in this study. Fascicle length, pennation angle, and muscle thickness of the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semimembranosus muscles were measured in both legs using ultrasound. Knee-flexor eccentric strength, height, body mass, leg length, femur length, and peak height velocity (PHV) were measured within 1 week of the ultrasound images. A stepwise regression and 1-way analysis of variance tests were used to evaluate the effects of age, maturity, and anthropometric measurements on muscle properties. Variance within BFlh and semimembranosus muscle thickness (r < .61), semimembranosus pennation angle (r < .58), and knee-flexor eccentric strength (r = .50) were highly related to body mass. We observed no significant correlations between muscle architecture and age (P > .29). However, moderately greater BFlh muscle thickness was shown for the post-PHV compared with the PHV group (effect size ± 90% CI: 0.72 ± 0.49). In conclusion, weak correlations between muscle architecture and anthropometric measurements suggest that other factors (ie,genetics, training regimen) influence muscle architecture. The moderate effect of maturity on BFlh muscle thickness strongly suggests post-PHV hypertrophy of the BFlh muscle. Our results confirmed previous findings that eccentric knee-flexor strength is influenced by body mass.

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Gait Initiation in Parkinson's Disease: Impact of Dopamine Depletion and Initial Stance Condition.

Postural instability, in particular at gait initiation (GI), and resulting falls are a major determinant of poor quality of life in subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Still, the contribution of the basal ganglia and dopamine on the feedforward postural control associated with this motor task is poorly known. In addition, the influence of anthropometric measures (AM) and initial stance condition on GI has never been consistently assessed. The biomechanical resultants of anticipatory postural adjustments contributing to GI [imbalance (IMB), unloading (UNL), and stepping phase) were studied in 26 unmedicated subjects with idiopathic PD and in 27 healthy subjects. A subset of 13 patients was analyzed under standardized medication conditions and the striatal dopaminergic innervation was studied in 22 patients using FP-CIT and SPECT. People with PD showed a significant reduction in center of pressure (CoP) displacement and velocity during the IMB phase, reduced first step length and velocity, and decreased velocity and acceleration of the center of mass (CoM) at toe off of the stance foot. All these measurements correlated with the dopaminergic innervation of the putamen and substantially improved with levodopa. These results were not influenced by anthropometric parameters or by the initial stance condition. In contrast, most of the measurements of the UNL phase were influenced by the foot placement and did not correlate with putaminal dopaminergic innervation. Our results suggest a significant role of dopamine and the putamen particularly in the elaboration of the IMB phase of anticipatory postural adjustments and in the execution of the first step. The basal ganglia circuitry may contribute to defining the optimal referent body configuration for a proper initiation of gait and possibly gait adaptation to the environment.

Influence of Anthropometry, Age, Sex, and Activity Level on the Hand Reach Star Excursion Balance Test.

The influence of anthropometric measurements, age, sex, and activity level have been found to influence tests of dynamic postural control such as the star excursion balance test (SEBT). The hand reach star excursion balance test (HSEBT) measures different aspects of dynamic postural control. The purpose of the present study was to explore the influence of these factors on the HSEBT. A convenience sample of 223 subjects performed four horizontal (L45, R45, L135, and R135) and two rotational (LROT and RROT) reaches. The influence of anthropometric measurements (height, arm length, leg length, and wingspan) on reach measurements were assessed using stepwise multiple linear regression. Influence of age (young: <20 years; adult: >20 years), sex (male; female) and activity level (athletes; recreational) on reach measurements were analyzed using independent samples t-test (p < 0.05) and interpreted using effect size (Cohens d) and established values of minimal detectable change (MDC). Wingspan explained a significant portion of the variance of only R45 (34.6%) and L45 (11.7%) reach measurements and normalized (percentage of wingspan). A medium effect of age, sex, and activity level was observed for normalized L45 and R45 reaches (d = 0.50–72). Group differences greater than MDC values and a medium effect for age (d = 0.55) and activity level (d = 0.75) were observed for the R135 reach. L45 and R45 reaches should be normalized to wingspan, but not the other reaches. Between individual or group comparisons should consider age, activity level and sex as potential covariates.

Adult Body Height Is a Good Predictor of Different Dimensions of Cognitive Function in Aged Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Adult height, weight, and adiposity measures have been suggested by some studies to be predictors of depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia. However, the presence of confounding factors and the lack of a thorough neuropsychological evaluation in many of these studies have precluded a definitive conclusion about the influence of anthropometric measures in cognition and depression. In this study we aimed to assess the value of height, weight, and abdominal perimeter to predict cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms in aged individuals.Methods and Findings: Cross-sectional study performed between 2010 and 2012 in the Portuguese general community. A total of 1050 participants were included in the study and randomly selected from local area health authority registries. The cohort was representative of the general Portuguese population with respect to age (above 50 years of age) and gender. Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of tests grouped in two dimensions: general executive function and memory. Two-step hierarchical multiple linear regression models were conducted to determine the predictive value of anthropometric measures in cognitive performance and mood before and after correction for possible confounding factors (gender, age, school years, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits). We found single associations of weight, height, body mass index, abdominal perimeter, and age with executive function, memory and depressive symptoms. However, when included in a predictive model adjusted for gender, age, school years, and lifestyle factors only height prevailed as a significant predictor of general executive function (β = 0.139; p < 0.001) and memory (β = 0.099; p < 0.05). No relation was found between mood and any of the anthropometric measures studied.Conclusions and Relevance: Height is an independent predictor of cognitive function in late-life and its effects on the general and executive function and memory are independent of age, weight, education level, gender, and lifestyle factors. Altogether, our data suggests that modulators of adult height during childhood may irreversibly contribute to cognitive function in adult life and that height should be used in models to predict cognitive performance.

Factors associated with low back pain in workers: the influence of anthropometric measures, abdominal endurance and hip flexibility

Summary Study aim: to compare the physical fitness of bus drivers and fare collectors (working hours per day in sitting position = 7h) with and without low back pain. The subjects consisted of sixty-six bus drivers and fare collectors working in a public transport company. Material and methods: the prevalence of low back pain, age and working time was determined for bus drivers and fare collectors using a questionnaire. All subjects underwent anthropometric assessment (weight, height and waist circumference), an abdominal endurance test and a hip flexibility test. Results: there was a significant difference between the low back pain group (n = 27) and the group without pain (n = 39) in body mass index (27.5 ± 3.9 kg · m–2 vs. 25.6 ± 4.0 kg · m–2), waist circumference (92.5 ± 10 cm vs. 85.9 ± 9 cm), the abdominal endurance test (28.9 ± 17.5 repetitions vs. 38.4 ± 19.2 repetitions) and the hip flexibility test (69.1 ± 14.4 degrees vs. 78.3 ± 16.9 degrees). There was no significant difference in age and working time. Conclusion: anthropometric measures, abdominal endurance and hip flexibility are deficient in bus drivers and fare collectors with low back pain. We suggest that workers with prevalent low back pain increase their physical fitness.

Influence of Anthropometric Measurements in Lung Function in Patients With Asthma.

Background:Obesity is commonly regarded as a risk factor for asthma development, poor asthma control, and poor response to asthma therapy.Methods:In a cross-sectional study, 85 asthmatics (37 male and 48 female) participated. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and anthropometric parameters were measured for each patient.Results:Mean age and median duration were 43.9 ± 10.61 and 6 (3–14) years, respectively. Among anthropometric parameters, only waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) indicated significant correlation with PFTs in both sex (P < 0.05). There were negative associations between waist circumference, hip circumference and WHR with PFTs only in overweight and obese women (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Some anthropometric parameters affected lung function, and it seems that gender differentially contributes to this effect.

The Theory and Fundamentals of Bioimpedance Analysis in Clinical Status Monitoring and Diagnosis of Diseases

Bioimpedance analysis is a noninvasive, low cost and a commonly used approach for body composition measurements and assessment of clinical condition. There are a variety of methods applied for interpretation of measured bioimpedance data and a wide range of utilizations of bioimpedance in body composition estimation and evaluation of clinical status. This paper reviews the main concepts of bioimpedance measurement techniques including the frequency based, the allocation based, bioimpedance vector analysis and the real time bioimpedance analysis systems. Commonly used prediction equations for body composition assessment and influence of anthropometric measurements, gender, ethnic groups, postures, measurements protocols and electrode artifacts in estimated values are also discussed. In addition, this paper also contributes to the deliberations of bioimpedance analysis assessment of abnormal loss in lean body mass and unbalanced shift in body fluids and to the summary of diagnostic usage in different kinds of conditions such as cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and neural and infection diseases.

Influence of anthropometric measures and socio-demographic factors on menstrual pain and irregular menstrual cycles among university students in Bangladesh

Menstrual disturbances generally affect the daily activities of young females. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of anthropometric measures and sociodemographic factors on menstrual disturbances among university students in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 995 stu- dents from Rajshahi University using a stratified sampling technique between July 2004 and May 2005. Factors influencing menstrual pain and irregular menstrual cycles were examined with multiple logistic regression analysis. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was also used to determine the most influential factors affecting menstrual disturbances. The prevalence of menstrual pain among the uni- versity students studied was very high (72.3%), while the experience of irregular menstrual cycles was very low (12.9%). Multiple logistic regressions demonstrated that menstrual pain was affected by early age at menarche, early birth order, longer length of menstrual flow and high family income. Students suffering from irregular menstrual cycles displayed a delay in menarche, longer duration of menstrual flow and larger body mass index (BMI) values. Moreover, stepwise logistic regression showed that age at menarche, birth order, duration of menstrual flow and family income were the most important fac- tors influencing menstrual pain. Age at menarche, duration of menstrual flow and BMI were found to be the most important factors affecting irregular menstrual cycles. These results suggest that age at me- narche and duration of menstrual flow are significant common factors which affect menstrual pain and irregular menstrual cycles. Consequently, menstrual disturbance can be considered as one of the major health problems of Bangladeshi university female students and requires attention.

Effects of Anthropometric Measurements on Renal Function

Although the negative effect of increased body mass index on kidney has been examined, the relation between other anthropometric measurements and kidney functions has not been investigated sufficiently. This study looks at the influence of anthropometric measurements on kidney functions. Forty patients were included in the study. Patients who had increased or normal anthropometric measurements were compared by serum levels of the urea, creatinine, albumin, 24 hr urine creatinine clearance, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER). Of all patients, 22 (55%) had an increased body mass index (BMI), 19 (47.5%) had an increased waist circumference (WC), and 24 (60%) had an increased waist-hip ratio (WHR). Subjects with increased BMI, WC, and WHR had significantly higher levels of serum creatinine and UAER than the subjects with normal measurements. The relation between CC and BMI was statistically significant only among the anthropometric measurements (p = 0.026). The ratio of microalbuminuria was 27.3%, 21.1%, and 29.2% in persons with increased BMI, WC, and WHR, respectively. Increases of anthropometric measurements affect kidney functions negatively. However, the influence of BMI on kidney function is more prominent. For this reason; individuals with increased anthropometric measurements should be monitored closely in terms of renal functions additional to cardiovascular risk factors.

Influence of anthropometric measurements, age, and prostate volume on prostate-specific antigen levels in men with a low risk of prostate cancer

Objectives To assess the correlation between age, height, body weight, body mass index, body surface area (BSA), prostate volume, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and to determine the significant factors for predicting the PSA level in men with a low risk of having prostate cancer. Methods Men who had undergone at least one ultrasound-guided extended prostate biopsy at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1998 to 2003 and were proven, on pathologic examination, to be without cancer were included in this study. All patients underwent clinical evaluations, including digital rectal examination, serum PSA determination, transrectal ultrasound examination, and anthropometric measurements. The relationship between the clinical parameters and PSA level was examined by the Mann-Whitney U test and determination of the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results A total of 653 men were eligible for analysis in our study. The median age was 62.0 years; the median prostate volume was 48.3 cm 3; and the median PSA level was 5.5 ng/mL. The PSA level correlated with age ( P <0.001) and prostate volume ( P <0.001), but not with height, body weight, body mass index, or BSA. The prostate volume correlated with age ( P <0.001), body weight ( P <0.001), body mass index ( P <0.01), and BSA ( P <0.01), but not with height. Multivariate analysis revealed that prostate volume and BSA were significant factors for predicting the PSA level. Conclusions Of the variables tested, prostate volume was most significantly related to the PSA level. The anthropometric parameters were not directly associated with the PSA level, but were associated with the prostate volume. Our findings suggest that differences in the PSA level may be influenced by body size, if the prostate volume is held constant in men with a low risk of having prostate cancer.

Risk factor change in older persons, a perspective from Hong Kong: weight change and mortality.

The influence of anthropometric measurements on mortality and longevity has been of interest to a number of investigators. However, although such measurements are not stable over time, few studies have attempted to account for such changes in longitudinal studies. The present study attempts to examine the relationship between weight change and mortality outcome. The research was based on a longitudinal study of a cohort of 1,056 Hong Kong Chinese men and women aged 70 and above. Among the 476 nonsmoking women at baseline, 374 with weight measurements both at baseline and at 24 months follow-up were included in the study. Proportional hazards analysis with adjustments for age and other physical and social factors was used to estimate the relative risk of mortality of the higher body mass index groups in relation to the lowest body mass index group and between the weight change groups. Women belonging to the middle tertile of body mass index distribution had the lowest mortality. Those with a weight loss of more than 2 kg over the first 24 months follow-up had five times the risk of mortality at 40 months, even after adjusting for health and social conditions and baseline body mass index. The results suggest that both the initial body weight and weight change during the follow-up period are important considerations in the study of the association between body weight and mortality.