Skinfold Procedures

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Skinfold Procedures
ExRx.net > Fitness Testing > Outline

Measurements
should be made
on the right side of
the body
Caliper should be
placed 1-2 cm
away from the
thumb and finger

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perpendicular to the skin fold

halfway between the crest and the base of the fold
Release the caliper lever so its spring tension is exerted on
the skinfold
Maintained pinch while reading caliper
Read dial on caliper
Between 1 to 2 seconds after lever has been released
Nearest 0.5 mm
ACSM: nearest mm
Take duplicate measures at each site
ExRx.net (traditional method)
If second measurement is not the same (mode)
take third.
If no 2 measurements are the same, take middle
one (median)
ACSM
If within 1 or 2 mm take average
If not within 1 or 2 mm take 3rd measurement.
If still no match, then take average of 2 closest
measurements.
NSCA

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Skinfold Procedures

http://www.exrx.net/Testing/SkinfoldProcedures.html#anchor132658

If no more than 10% average two measurements

Otherwise, take one or more additional
measurements two are within 10%
Rotate through measurement sites
allows time for skin and underlying fat to regain
normal thickness

7 Site Skinfold
Measurements
Male & Female
Triceps
Chest/Pectoral
Midaxillary
Subscapular
Suprailiac
Abdominal
Thigh

3 Site Skinfold
Measurements
Male
Chest
Abdomen
Thigh
Women
Triceps
Suprailium
Thigh

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Skinfold Sites

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Skinfold Sites
ExRx.net > Fitness Testing > Instructions

Triceps

Chest

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Vertical fold
Posterior midline of the upper arm
Halfway between the acromion
(shoulder) and olecranon processes
(elbow)
Arm held freely to the side of the
body

Midaxillary

Vertical or Horizontal fold

Midaxillary line at the level of the
xiphoid process of the sternum

Suprailiac

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Diagonal fold
Men: one-half the distance between
the anterior axillary line (crease of the
underarm) and the nipple
Women: one-third of the distance
between the anterior axillary line and
the nipple

Subscapular

Diagonal fold
1 to 2 cm below the inferior angle of
the scapula

Abdominal

3/29/2015 7:02 PM

Skinfold Sites

http://www.exrx.net/Testing/BodyCompSites.html

Diagonal fold
Anterior axillary line (modern
technique)
immediately superior to the iliac
crest
in line with the natural angle of
the iliac crest taken
Mid-axillary line (traditional
technique)
Superior to the iliac crest

Thigh

Vertical (modern technique)

2 cm or 1" to the right side of
the umbilicus
Horizontal fold (traditional)
2 cm to the right side of the
umbilicus

Other Sites
Biceps
Vertical fold
Anterior aspect of the arm over the
belly of the biceps muscle
1 cm above the level used to mark
the triceps site

Calf
Vertical fold
maximum circumference of calf on the
midline of medial border

Vertical fold
Anterior midline of the thigh
Midway between the proximal border
of the patella (upper knee) and the
inguinal crease (hip)

Skinfold site illustration from Trainer Clip Art CD-ROM.

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