Anthropometric studies: height measurement, body weight measurement. Methodology for conducting anthropometric measurements

Standing height. Points of contact of the subject with the height meter bar: heels, sacrum, interscapular area, back of the head (an imaginary line connecting the outer corner of the eye and the tragus of the ear should be parallel to the floor).

Body mass. Weighing is carried out without clothes and shoes. The subject stands in the middle of the scale platform, with the locking bolt lowered, then the bolt is raised and the weight is moved along the lower bar, and then along the upper bar until it is balanced. At the end of weighing, the locking bolt is lowered.

Circle chest - measured with a measuring tape at vertical position subject. Points for applying the measuring tape: behind - the lower corners of the shoulder blades, in front - in women above mammary gland at the level of attachment of the fourth rib to the sternum, and in men along the lower segment of the nipples. The chest circumference is measured in three positions: pause, maximum inhalation and maximum exhalation. The chest circumference during a pause is on average 83-85 cm for women, 88-92 cm for men. The difference between maximum inhalation and exhalation is called the scope or excursion of the chest. Chest excursion for men it is 7-10 cm, for women 5-7 cm, for athletes 12-15 cm.

Vital capacity of the lungs. Vital vital capacity is determined using a spirometer. After preliminary inhalation and exhalation, the subject takes a maximum breath and then exhales air evenly and slowly into the spirometer tube, which he holds in his hands. Measurements are carried out 3 times, recording the best result. Measurement accuracy 100 ml. Vital capacity can also be determined using a dry spirometer, spirograph, or flow-volume loop. Average vital capacity indicators for women 3000-3500 cm³, and for men 3500-4000 cm³.

Shoulder circumference- measurements are carried out twice: in a state of maximum tension and in a state of relaxation. Determining the circumference of the shoulder in a state of tension, the arm is bent in elbow joint at an angle of 90 degrees, and strain as much as possible. The measuring tape is applied at the largest circumference of the shoulder. In a state of relaxation: the hand is lowered down and the tape is applied in the same place as when measuring under tension. The difference between the shoulder circumference when it is tense and when it is relaxed is called shoulder span. Men's shoulder span– 2-3 cm, for women – 1.5 – 2.5 cm.

Forearm circumference determined by lowering your hand down. A measuring tape is applied at the location of the largest circumference of the forearm.

Waist circumference determined by placing a measuring tape at the narrowest point of the body above the crests of the iliac bones.

Thigh circumference and shins measure in the following way: the subject places his feet shoulder-width apart, and when measuring the thigh circumference, a centimeter tape is placed horizontally under the gluteal fold, and when measuring the shin circumference, a centimeter tape is placed in the widest part of the lower leg.

Shoulder width measured with a compass, the legs of which are placed on the acromial processes of the shoulder blades. In order to make sure that the legs of the compass are placed on the acromial processes, and not on the heads of the humerus, it is necessary to rotate the arms. The places where the compass is applied must be stationary.

Sagittal diameter of the chest is determined by placing one leg of the compass on the middle of the sternum at the place where the fourth rib is attached to it, and the second on the spinous process of the thoracic vertebra at the level with the anterior leg.

Carpal dynamometry – determined using a hand dynamometer. The dynamometer is taken into the hand with the arrow pointing towards the palm and, stretching it to the side, it is squeezed as much as possible alternately with the right and left hands. Average manual dynamometry performance for women they are 30-35 kg, and for men 40-50 kg. Measurement accuracy 2 kg.

Anthropometry methods are, first of all, a set of measurement measures aimed at determining compliance physical development human standards, subject to maintenance healthy way life, having sufficient physical activity. Anthropometric techniques are based mainly on taking into account morphological external and quantitative indicators. However, there is also whole line research aimed at determining the parameters internal organs and indicators of body systems.

Why is anthropometry required?

When we evaluate others, we ask ourselves why people differ so much from each other on a number of external parameters. Reason for availability characteristic differences lies not only in genetic inclinations, but also in worldview, peculiarities of thinking and character.

Human existence involves successive processes of maturation, maturity and aging. Development and growth are interdependent, closely related processes.

The anthropometry method is effective remedy to determine the compliance of certain development parameters with the norms characteristic of a particular age period person. Based on this, the main purpose of the method lies in identifying the developmental characteristics of both a child and an adult sexually mature person.

Factors in anthropometric studies

Continuous flow metabolic processes in the body, the transformation of energy becomes a determining factor, which is reflected in the characteristics of development. As the anthropometry method shows, the rate of change in circumference, mass and other body parameters in individual periods human formations are not identical. However, this can be judged visually without resorting to scientific research. It is enough to remember yourself in preschool, adolescence and adulthood.

Indicators of body weight, height, increase in volume certain parts bodies, proportions are part of the program embedded in each of us from birth. In the presence of optimal conditions for the development of the body, all these indicators change in a certain sequence. However, there are many factors that can affect not only a violation of the sequence of development, but also lead to the appearance irreversible changes negative character. Here it is worth highlighting:

1. External factors - social conditions of existence, improper absence rational nutrition, non-compliance with the work and rest regime, the presence bad habits,
2. Internal factors- Availability serious illnesses, negative heredity.

Basics of anthropometric studies

The basics of the anthropometry method are a set of scientific research on parameter measurement human body, which originated in the middle of the last century, when scientists became interested in the patterns of variability of individual anthropometric indicators.

Considering anthropometric data, for example, the length of the body and limbs, growth characteristics, changes in weight, transformation of the circumference of body parts, it becomes possible to visually assess the norm of human physical development.

Carrying out anthropometry makes it possible to compile general ideas regarding The following views are obtained by performing several basic measurements:

• body length;
• body weight;
• chest circumference.

Conditions for conducting anthropometry

Anthropometry methods are measurements based on the use of adjusted, proven measuring mechanisms. Scales, height meters, dynamometers, etc. are most often used here.

Anthropometric studies usually taken on an empty stomach in the first half of the day. In this case, the subjects should be dressed in light shoes and clothing. In order for the anthropometric assessment to be as close to reality as possible, careful adherence to measurement rules is required.

Analysis of compliance of the necessary indicators of physical development with specific standards - essential elements, on which anthropometry is based. The research template allows you to identify risk factors, signs abnormal development and the presence of certain diseases. Therefore, a correct assessment of the results of anthropometry can contribute to establishing a direction for management healthy image life and healthy development.

Below is a template for conducting anthropometry in kindergarten:

The template is filled in with data for each pupil of a certain group kindergarten. Here are columns with the child’s FI, information about height and weight data for individual seasons.

Body length measurement

The most common procedure is anthropometry of children. It is carried out provided that a whole complex of measuring instruments is available. Growth indicators are measured in a standing position. For this purpose, specialized height meters are used. The subject is placed on the device platform, leaning his back against the measuring stand in a natural vertical position. A horizontal sliding bar is applied to the child's head without excessive pressure, the position of which corresponds to a certain gradation on the measuring scale.

It is extremely important that children’s anthropometry is carried out in the first half of the day, because in the late afternoon, a person’s height on average decreases by about 1-2 centimeters. The root of the phenomenon is the presence of natural fatigue, decreased muscle tone, compaction of the cartilaginous vertebrae, as well as flattening of the foot as a result of stress while walking.

The indicators of human body length reflect a whole range of genetic factors, age and gender differences, health status. Height can either correspond to a person’s age or differ significantly from the acceptable norm. Thus, insufficient body length in accordance with certain age limits is called nanism, and a noticeable excess of height is called gigantism.

Mass measurement

Anthropometry of children and adults when measuring weight is carried out using special floor scales. When measuring weight, the permissible error is considered to be a deviation from actual values ​​of no more than 50 g.

Compared to body length, weight indicators are quite unstable and can change due to a wide range of factors. For example, the weight fluctuation of an average person per day is about 1-1.5 kg.

Anthropometric determination of human somatotype

There are separate somatotypes, which are determined by anthropometry. Templates for kindergarten, primary and higher education educational institutions, as well as for persons of puberty, make it possible to distinguish mesosomatic, microscopic and macroscopic somatotypes. The assignment of an individual to one of the specified somatotypes is carried out based on the sum of the scale values ​​when measuring weight, body length and chest circumference.

Somatotype is most often determined by anthropometry in kindergarten. Exactly on initial stages development can be achieved most reliable results, which correspond to the characteristics of a particular type of body structure. Thus, with a total of up to 10 points, according to the above parameters, the child’s body structure is classified as microscopic type. A score from 11 to 15 points indicates a mesosomatic structure. Accordingly, a high score from 16 to 21 indicates a macrosomatic type of child’s body structure.

Determining the degree of harmonious development

It is possible to declare the harmonious development of a child’s body structure based on the results of anthropometric studies only if the difference in weight, chest circumference and body length does not exceed one. If the average statistical difference between these indicators is two or more, then the development of the child’s body is considered disharmonious.

Technique for performing anthropometric studies

Currently used quite simple technique, with which anthropometry is performed. Templates for kindergarten and primary educational institutions allow you to quickly perform research to obtain results with a slight error.

Typically, anthropometric studies of the child's structure are carried out by nurses. However, as is the case with others scientific methods, conducting anthropometry requires compliance with certain conditions, the presence of which, along with special skills, ensures the accuracy and correctness of the results.

The main conditions for technically correct anthropometry are:

• conducting research according to a unified methodology for all subjects;
• performance of measurement activities by one specialist using the same technical base;
• conducting research at the same time for all subjects, for example, in the morning on an empty stomach;
• The person being examined should wear a minimum of clothing (usually light underpants or cotton clothing are allowed).

Eventually

Anthropometric studies have special meaning, in particular when examining children, as they allow timely identification of patterns of child development in accordance with certain age and physical requirements. Moreover, the results of anthropometric studies provide an idea not only of the normal development of body parameters, but can also tell us about the beginnings of certain diseases.

During anthropometric studies, it is important not to forget about the universality of the values ​​of body parameters. Until recently, assessment of a child’s health was often carried out based on compliance of height and body weight with table requirements. However, this approach is fundamentally wrong. In particular, a sharp change in body weight is affected by a whole group of factors, such as heredity, etc. That is why you should not make decisive conclusions about the state of health based on anthropometry, because only special tests aimed at identifying a specific disease can confirm existing assumptions.

The study of physical development is carried out using anthropometric measurements. In order for data on physical development to be used scientifically and practically, they must satisfy a number of requirements. The tools with which research is carried out must be standard and strictly verified. The measurement technique must be unified, the work must be carried out by qualified personnel, and the material must be processed correctly and uniformly.

All measurements must be taken with the subject naked and certain time days (from 9 to 3 o'clock), otherwise a number of inaccuracies are inevitable. Weight and height show some fluctuations during the day, depending on the daily routine of the person being measured.

Height is measured using a folding metal anthropometer or (more often) using a wooden easel stadiometer, i.e. a wide solid board, 2 cm long, with centimeter divisions, mounted vertically on a massive stable platform. A tightly fitting and easily sliding plank walks along the board. The person being measured must be in a military bearing position, and touch the height meter with his heels, buttocks and shoulder blades, keep his head straight, so that the upper edge of the ear tragus and the outer corner of the eye socket are at the same horizontal level. Height is measured while sitting using a folding bench or an attached stool with a height of 40 cm for adults and 25 cm for children; the person being measured must sit up straight (when counting, if there is no special scale, the height of the stool should be subtracted).

The chest circumference and other circumferences are measured with a 1.5-2 m long steel tape, with millimeter divisions. If you have to use cloth or gutta-percha tape, you should regularly check it against the scale. The chest circumference is measured with the arms down, measured at the level of the lower edge of the isola in men and children; with the beginning of the development of the mammary glands in girls and women - under mammary glands(along the course of approximately the fourth rib), behind - along the lower corners of the shoulder blades. The measurement is taken in a state of quiet breathing, inhalation and exhalation.

Weighing is carried out on lever weightless doctor's scales. The vital capacity of the lungs is measured with a spirometer. After doing several exercises, the subject should exhale evenly and forcefully after taking a deep breath; from several measurements, the maximum value is recorded. The maximum value is also recorded when measuring the muscle strength of the right and left arms, the so-called “dead” strength (the work of the back muscles when lifting weights from the floor), measured using a dynamometer. It should be noted, however, that dynamometers are very inaccurate instruments.

Properly collected and processed results of studies of physical development provide a wealth of material for characterizing the sanitary condition of individual population groups.

Measuring body weight. Weighing children under 2 years of age is carried out on tray scales, which consist of a body, a tray, a movable rocker with two division scales (the lower one is in kilograms, the upper one is in grams). On the left side of the rocker there is a counterweight, on the right side there is a arrow-shaped process. You can use electronic scales. The scales are balanced before each child is weighed. This is achieved by rotating the counterweight until the swept arm of the rocker arm is level with the stationary arm on the scale body. The weights are at zero scale divisions. The scales should be installed next to the changing table on a fixed bedside table. A clean diaper folded several times is placed on the tray, and the scales are balanced along with the diaper. The child is placed so that the head is located at the wide end of the tray, and the legs are at the narrow end. Before work and after finishing, the tray part is wiped with a 0.5% chloramine solution.

Children over 2 years of age are weighed on lever medical scales.

Regardless of age, children are weighed in the morning on an empty stomach, preferably after urination and defecation.

Body length measurement. Children's height infancy measured using a special horizontal stadiometer, which is a board rectangular shape 80 cm long and 40 cm wide. Before starting the measurement, the stadiometer is wiped with a 0.5% chloramine solution and a diaper is placed. A child dressed in a vest is placed on the stadiometer so that the head tightly touches the stationary transverse bar of the stadiometer with the crown of the head, the legs are straightened at the knees and the movable transverse bar of the stadiometer is pressed against the soles. Using the side bar with a scale, the distance between the fixed and movable bars (the height of the child) is determined.

The height of older children is measured using a stadiometer in a standing position. The latter is a wooden board 2 m 10 cm long, 8-10 cm wide and 5-7 cm thick, installed vertically on a wooden platform measuring 75 x 50 cm. Two division scales in centimeters are marked on the vertical board: on the right - for measuring height in in a standing position, on the left - in a sitting position. A 20 cm long bar slides along the board. At a level of 40 cm from the floor, a folding bench is attached to the vertical board for measuring height in a sitting position. Measurement procedure: the child stands on the stadiometer platform with his back to the vertical stand, in a natural straightened position, touching the vertical stand with his heels, buttocks, back and back of the head, arms down along the body, heels together, toes apart. The head is placed in a position in which the lower corner of the orbit and the upper edge of the tragus of the ear are in the same horizontal plane. The movable bar is applied to the head without pressure.

The height of children from 1 year to 3 years is measured using the same stadiometer, only instead of the lower platform a folding bench is used and the reading is carried out on the scale on the left. The positioning of the head and body is the same as when measuring the height of older children.

Measuring the circumference of the head, chest, shoulder, thigh, lower leg.

The head circumference is determined by applying a measuring tape, passing it from behind along the occipital point, and from the front along the superciliary arches.

Chest circumference is measured three times: calm breathing, at the height of inhalation and the height of exhalation. The child should be in a standing position with his arms down. The measuring tape is applied at the back under the lower angles of the shoulder blades with the arms extended to the side. Then the hands are lowered and the tape is passed in front along the midsternal point. For girls in puberty with well-developed mammary glands, the tape is applied over the mammary gland at the junction of the skin from the chest to the gland.

Shoulder circumference is measured twice: with tense muscles and with relaxed arm muscles. The child’s arm in a supinated position is bent to the horizontal level of the forearm and a measuring tape is applied at the site of the greatest thickening of the biceps muscle, then the child is asked to make a fist and bend the arm at the elbow joint with maximum force - the first measurement is taken, after which, without removing the tape, the second measurement is taken - with the arm freely lowered. This measurement is the main one used in calculations. By the difference in circumferences measured in tense and relaxed states of the arm, one can judge the development of the biceps brachii muscle.

Thigh circumference is measured by placing a measuring tape under the gluteal fold. The child should stand with his feet shoulder-width apart.

The calf circumference is determined at the site of maximum volume of the calf muscle.

Transportation of patients

Transportation of children can be carried out in several ways. The method of transporting a sick child to the department is determined by the doctor. Children who are in satisfactory condition go to the department alone, accompanied medical worker, young children and infants are carried in their arms. Seriously ill patients are transported on a stretcher mounted on a special gurney. All stretchers and wheelchairs must be filled with clean sheets, and in the cold season, blankets. The sheet is changed after each patient, and the blanket is aired. Some patients are transported in a wheelchair. The reception area must be provided required quantity stretchers and wheelchairs.

In the ward, a seriously ill patient is transferred from a stretcher to a bed: one hand is placed under the shoulder blades, and the other under the patient’s hips, while the child clasps his neck with his hands nurse. If the patient is carried by two people, then one supports the patient under the shoulder blades and lower back, the second - under the buttocks and legs.

Anthropometry is the measurement of a number of somatometric parameters of the human body: body weight, height, shoulder width, chest circumference and some functional indicators: vital capacity of the lungs (VC) and muscle strength. During the examination, the patient should wear a minimum of clothing.

Somatometric indicators include body weight, height, circumference of the chest, abdomen, and limbs.

Body mass. Weighing must be carried out on a decimal medical scale with an accuracy of up to 50 g. The scales must be verified before conducting research. It is advisable to weigh yourself in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Standing height is measured using a stadiometer or anthropometer. The subject stands with his back to the stadiometer, touching the vertical post of the device with his heels, buttocks and interscapular area. The head is positioned so that the outer corner of the eye and the upper edge ear canal(tragus of the ear) are on one straight line parallel to the floor, and the back of the head does not touch the height meter stand. The height of a child under 2 years of age is measured in a lying position.

Sitting height is measured with a similar position of the torso and head, and the legs are bent at the knees and the feet rest on the floor. By subtracting the height while sitting from the height while standing, the length of the legs is determined.

Chest circumference is measured in three states: at the moments of maximum inspiration, full exhalation and at rest. A measuring tape is applied from behind under the lower angles of the shoulder blades and in front: in children and men along the lower nipple line, in women above the mammary gland at the level of the upper edge of the 4th rib. The difference between the inhalation and exhalation values ​​reflects the mobility (span) of the chest. This figure for men is 6-8 cm, for women 4-6 cm, for athletes it reaches 10-14 cm, for people who have had lung diseases this figure can be reduced to 1-2 cm or equal to 0.

Abdominal circumference is measured while lying on your side, at the level of its greatest convexity, and the waist - in a standing position, at the level of its smallest convexity.

The shoulder circumference is determined by applying a measuring tape in the area of ​​the most protruding part of the biceps brachii muscle, first in a relaxed state with the arm lowered down, and then with maximum tension in the muscles of the shoulder and forearm in a position raised to the level of the shoulder girdle and the arm bent at the elbow.

The circumference of the thigh is determined under the gluteal fold, and the circumference of the lower leg is determined in the area of ​​​​the greatest convexity of the calf muscle.

The width of the shoulders is measured with a pelvic gauge, placing its legs on the prominent edge of the acromion. When measuring the width of the pelvis, the legs of the pelvis are placed between the points of the iliac crests.

The vital capacity of the lungs is determined using a spirometer. The subject, in a standing position, first performs normal inhalation and exhalation two to three times, and then, after a short rest, performs deep breath and, taking the mouthpiece of the spirometer tube into the mouth, exhales evenly until failure. The measurement is repeated 2-3 times and taken into account highest result. Average vital capacity indicators for adult men are 35004000 ml, and for women - 2500-3000 ml. For athletes, depending on the type of sport and skill level, this indicator varies over a wide range.

Muscle strength is measured using dynamometers. The strength of the hand muscles is determined by maximally squeezing the hand dynamometer with the hand extended forward or towards the straight arm. Average strength indicators right hand for men they are 45-50 kg, for women 35-40 kg, respectively, the left one is 5-7 kg less. The value of this indicator is higher among athletes and also depends on sports specialization.

The strength of the back extensor muscles is measured using a back dynamometer. It is attached to the handle at the top, and a chain is attached to it at the bottom.

The corresponding chain link is put on a hook mounted on a special platform, so that the handle, when the chain is tensioned, is at the level of the knees. The subject stands on the support platform so that the hook is in the middle between the feet and smoothly pulls the handle up. When measuring, legs and arms should be straight. You cannot lean back or jerk. The measurement is made 2-3 times and the highest value is taken into account. Deadlift strength for men is on average 130-150 kg, for women - 8090 kg.

Sakrut V.N., Kazakov V.N.