Triceps skinfold thickness

It is one the simple and rapid method used for the estimation of % body fat . It represent the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue and skin:

Instrument:

Skinfold thickness caliper

Procedure:

1)To determine the midpoint of subject arm, bend the arm  so that right angle is formed.

2)Touch with fingertips and mark the two point i. e. the acromion and olecranon process.

3)Measure the distance between the point using a flexible, non - stretchable tape. Note the distance to the nearest cm and divide it by two to estimate the point with a marker.

4)Ask the subject to straighten his/ her arm .

5)Palpate the measurement site at the posterior surface of the arm and try to separate the muscle from the adipose tissue and the skin.

6)Pinch the site with thumb and forefinger in such a way.

7)Place the caliper at the measuring site.  

8)Ensure that the skinfold is vertical.

9)Take the reading by the caliper after 4 second s of full pressure to the nearest 1 mm.

Anthropometric measurement in bedridden person:

Height of the individual is measure while standing straight. The ability to stand upright is not always possible due to various health conditions, therefore arising the need to use indirect estimation .

following are parameter that can be helpful in calculating true height:

Knee height

Arm span 

Half arm span

Demispan

 Knee height is measure in adults aged 60 year and above when height measurement is not possible.

followed protocol is to be followed:

1)The subject should sit on examination table with the assistance of the helper, with both legs dangling. 

2) The examiner places the fixed blade of the large sliding caliper under the heel of the right leg.

3)From a squatting position, the examiner lifts the leg so that the knee and ankle are at an angle of 90 from each other    . This can be best accomplished by resting the foot of subject in the palm of the examiner, s hand. 

4) The moveable blade of the calipers placed in the interior surfaces of the right thigh, above the condyle (round prominence at the end of bone) of the femur, about two inches above the patella (a small bone located in front of the knee joint).

5)The shaft of the caliper is held parallel while the pressure is being exerted to compress the tissue. The recorder needs to recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm and put into chum lea equations for stature calculations of Caucasian patients. 

Stature man (cm): [ 2.02 multiply by KH cm ] -[ 0.04 multiply by age ] + 64.19

Stature woman(cm): [1.83 Multiply by KH cm] - [0.24 multiply by age ] +48.88

Arm span:

It is another simple measure useful for anthropometrics profiling of the handicapped individuals. The measurement of arm span corresponds to one height .

Equipment: Ruler of tape measure, wall

Procedure :

1)Two people are requires the arm span measure, Because arm span can, t be measured at your own.

2)Subject should stand as straight as possible and avoid hunching the shoulder.

3)Arms should be fully stretched without any bending of subject, s arms or finger.

4)Arms should be leveled and even, as   lowering  or raising of arms can affect the measurement of  full arm span.

5)Measurements should be taken by measuring tape from the tip of middle finger of one hand to the middle finger of the other hand.

6)person who is taken measurements should keep the tape even so that accurate measurements can be taken.

Half arm span:

The body position similar to the one ascribed is required to measure half- arm span. The distance measured from the dactylion of the right hand to the suprasternal notch (on the mid-sternal line)''with the help of flexible , non - stretchable tape. The  mean of three reading is used to get an estimate of height through WHO recommended equation .

Height in meter=0.37*(2 multiply half- span)+ 0,43

Demi- span:

It is the distance from a point on midline at the sternal notch to the web between the and ring fingers of a horizontally outstretched arm''. It is measured as an alternative approach to estimate the height of the bedridden patients for the nutritional assessment or other purposes . It must be measured with a non - stretchable stainless - steel tape.

How can the triceps skinfold thickness measurement be accurately obtained in bedridden patients?

What challenges might healthcare professionals encounter when attempting to measure the triceps skinfold thickness in bedridden patients, and how might these be overcome?

What does a high or low triceps skinfold thickness indicate about the nutritional status of a bedridden patient?

How do changes in triceps skinfold thickness over time help in assessing the progression or improvement of a bedridden patient's health status?

Can you describe the importance of including anthropometric measurements such as triceps skinfold thickness in a comprehensive assessment of a bedridden patient's overall health?

What is good skinfold score?

What does triceps skinfold  thickness measure?