COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR DETERMINING PERCENTAGE OF BODY FAT ON A SAMPLE OF KAYAKERS AND CANOEISTS – IN SLALOM

Determining body structure in physical culture, sports, but also in sports recreation is one of the ways to check effectiveness of certain training programs and their impact on a percentage of subcutaneous fat and fat-free components. This study was conducted on a sample of 49 kayakers and slalom canoeists (aged 19.9 ± 1.7 years), and the aim was to compare validity of methods for estimating percentage of body fat based on the skinfold measurement method in relation to the bioelectrical impedance method for application in diagnostics within a training process of slalom kayakers and slalom canoeists. The percentage of body fat was determined by methods of determining the percentage of body fat according to Siri (1961), Brozek et al. (1963), Jackson, & Pollock, (1985) and the BIA bioelectrical impedance method. After statistical procedures, correlation analysis revealed a high correlation between the methods: anthropometric methods according to Siri and Brozek, both methods with the Jackson Pollock method, while all three methods have a high level of correlation with the BIA method, while the Wilcoxon test showed that the bioelectrical impedance method had statistically significantly higher values than the method of determining the percentage of body fat according to Siri & Brozek (p <0.001), and significantly lower than the method of determining the percentage of body fat according to Jackson Pollock (p = 0.005). The research showed that in the observed sample of respondents, when it comes to one respondent, a group of respondents, respondents within one sport or an uneven sample of non-athletes, if it is not possible to use some of the more sophisticated BIA methods, a satisfactory method could be the skinfold measurement method.

Effect of the electrolipophoresis in the lipodystrophy treatment and its influence on lipid profile

Introduction: The excess of body adiposity and the hormonal action can lead to the accumulation of adipose tissue in certain parts of the body. The electrolipophoresis is a technique used to treat localized fat, by applying low frequency electrical currents that act directly on the adipocytes and lipids accumulated subcutaneously or epicutaneously. This electrical stimulation causes physiological modifications in the adipocyte, among them the increase in blood flow and cellular metabolism leading to lipolysis. Objective: This study aimed to prove, through the measurement of triglycerides in the blood, which is the most effective method of electrolipophoresis practical application in the promoted lipolysis. Methods: The old female patients aged from 49 to 62 underwent evaluation that measured the body mass index (BMI); perimetry performed with the use of measuring tape of the waist and abdomen region and the realization of abdominal (vertical) skinfold measurement with the use of adipometer. After the evaluation, the volunteers were divided into two groups in which one of them received subcutaneous application of electrolipophoresis equipment (needles) and the other one received epicutaneous electrolipophoresis application (plates). They were positioned and oriented about the procedure and received the practical application of electrolipophoresis (DGM equipment) twice a week for ten sessions of 60 minutes each. The dosage of triglycerides was performed in the first and last session. Results: There was a reduction in all evaluations performed, and a subcutaneous application shows more effective in the treatment of localized fat. Conclusion: With these findings was observed a reduction in abdominal measurement and decreased of triglycerides in the blood thus showing that treatment using plates or electrodes is effective in localized lipodystrophy. Despite the significant reduction of localized adiposity, further studies with more participants and sessions are needed to make this treatment, widely used in clinical practice of Dermato-Functional Physiotherapy, most reliable.

Educating Chiropractic Students About Intraobserver and Interobserver Variability Through the Use of Skinfold Measurement

Purpose: Skinfold measurements taken by novice observers are fraught with high rates of intraobserver variability and even higher rates of interobserver variability, and therefore having students collect and analyze skinfold measurements is an ideal way to present the concepts of both measurement and physiological variability. Methods: Students in a 1st trimester clinical biochemistry laboratory were assembled into groups of four, and within each group the students were asked to volunteer to be either a subject, a data recorder, or one of two observers. To demonstrate intraobserver versus interobserver variability the subject was assessed by four separate observers who each took four separate skinfold measurements. The skinfold measurement obtained from each separate observation was based on the sum of four skinfold sites. The average sums of the skinfold measurement (in mm) and standard deviations were calculated and posted for postlaboratory discussion. Results: Skinfold measurements were taken on 76 1st-trimester chiropractic students (46 males and 30 females). The average intraobserver and interobserver variability across all 76 participants was 4.8 ± 2.3mm and 10.0 ± 6.3mm, respectively, representing a twofold increase in variability, which was statistically significant (p &lt; .0001). The noticeable differences between intraobserver and interobserver variability provided a great back drop for postlab discussion, which was the intended purpose of performing this demonstration project. Conclusion: Measuring skinfold thickness can prove to be a useful and inexpensive method for easily and safely demonstrating the concepts of variability to students.