1. Assessment of Body Proportions
BPK303
Assessment of Body Proportions
Summer 2015

2. Height Distance & Velocity Curves
Adolescent growth spurt
growth most rapid in first two years

3. Height Velocity Curves
Indicator of maturity
Needs longitudinal data
Other “systems” have similar curves

5. Upper Arm Maturity Gradient

6. Maturity Gradients
Adult proportions are a result of complex genetic and environmental influences

7. Shape Changes with Age

8. Proportional Changes

9. Quantifying Proportions
Allometry
a general assessment
Phantom
a detailed assessment

10. Allometry Growth of one part in relation to the growth of another part
Isometry - same proportions maintained during growth (same shape)

11. Physical Dimensions
[L] = Length
[T] = Time
[M] = Mass

12. VELOCITY = DISTANCE / TIME
= [L]/[T]
= [L]1[T]-1

13. Geometrical Similarity System
with increase or decrease in size there is
no change in shape or body composition

14. Geometrical Similarity System
Length = [L]1
Mass = [L]3
Time = [L]1

15. VELOCITY = DISTANCE / TIME
= [L]1/[L]1
= [L]1[L]-1
= [L]0

16. Huxley’s Allometric Curve
Y = aXb

17. Huxley’s Allometric Curve
Log10Y = log10a + blog10X
Curve is linearized by “logging” both sides
“b-value” is used to describe relative growth

18. Human Architecture Growth - longitudinal Adult – Cross-sectional
As children grow they tend to become more linear, less weight for height
Head becomes proportionally smaller
Limbs become proportionally longer
Adult – Cross-sectional
Tall more linear (less ponderous)
Tall proportionally longer limbs
Tall proportionally weaker

19. Allometric Analysis Log10 Y [L]yd Log10 X [L]xd Geometrical Expectancy
Slope = b = yd/xd
Log10 Y
[L]yd
Actual Data
Slope = b = ?
Log10 X
[L]xd

20. Longitudinal Allometric Analysis

21. Cross-sectional Allometric Analysis

22. Galileo’s Cube-Square Law

23. Large relative to what?

24. Doryphorus (Spearbearer)
Polykleitos (750 BC )
Canon of ideal proportions
Combination of the best parts of 23 men

25. Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man
Canon of perfect proportions
eg Navel is the centre of the circle described by the hands at head height and the feet when legs describe an equilateral triangle

26. (x - mean) / standard deviation
Standard Score
z-score
(x - mean) / standard deviation

27. Phantom is a list of means (P) and standard deviations (s)

28. Phantom Formula standard score in comparison to a unisex reference
proportionality score

29. Geometrical Similarity System
with increase or decrease in size there is
no change in shape or body composition

30. Geometrical Scaling
d = 1 for linear measures [L]1 (lengths, skinfolds etc)
d = 2 for measures of dimension [L]2 (areas, strength)
d = 3 for measures of dimension [L]3 (weight, volumes) & weight)

31. Interpretation of z-values
Phantom is not a norm
Proportionally bigger (+) or smaller (-) than the Phantom (so what?)
Compare z-values

32. Bivariate Plotting of Z-values2 1 -1
Time

33. Weight

34. Sitting Height

35. Upper Arm Length

36. Foot Length

37. Skinfold-adjusted Arm Girth

38. Proportionality Profile-1 1
Weight
Arm Length
Triceps Skinfold
Arm Girth

39. Standard Error of the Mean

40. Visual Test of Significant Difference between Means
1 Standard Error of the Mean
No significant difference
Significant difference

41. Proportionality Profile-1 1
Weight
Arm Length
Triceps Skinfold
Arm Girth

42. Kin 303 Proportionality Profile
Fall 2009
Males Black Boxes (n=10)
Females Open Boxes (n=15)
Means ± 1 SEM