Anthropometric Assessments in Physical Therapy

The anthropometric assessment by physical therapists is noninvasive and inexpensive but provides detailed information on the different components of body structure, including muscular and fat components. Despite the general recognition among physical therapist educators of the need to teach anthropometry to physical therapist students, textbooks and current peer-reviewed journal publications on the topic are limited. Hence, the impetus to write this chapter to address the specific needs and relevance of anthropometric assessments in physical therapy. This chapter discusses anthropometric assessments in orthopedic physical therapy (measurement of muscle bulk and leg length, figure of eight, and limb girth measurements), oncologic physical therapy (limb girth measurement, and volumetric measurement), pediatric physical therapy (recumbent length, head, and limb circumference measurement, body mass index, and ponderal index), and cardiopulmonary physical therapy (waist circumference, weight-to-height ratio, skinfold measurements). In addition, the chapter presents anthropometric assessments in sports physical therapy (bioelectrical impedance analysis, hydrostatic weighing, air displacement plethysmography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, diagnostic ultrasound, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging), and rehabilitation ergonomics. Finally, the chapter introduces clinical vignettes and case studies to enliven the anthropometric assessments described.