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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(14): 1134-1141
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555857
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ultrasound Applied to Subcutaneous Fat Tissue Measurements in International Elite Canoeists

S. Kopinski
1   Sports and Health Sciences, University Outpatient Clinic Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
,
T. Engel
1   Sports and Health Sciences, University Outpatient Clinic Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
,
M. Cassel
1   Sports and Health Sciences, University Outpatient Clinic Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
,
K. Fröhlich
1   Sports and Health Sciences, University Outpatient Clinic Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
,
F. Mayer
1   Sports and Health Sciences, University Outpatient Clinic Potsdam, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
,
A. Carlsohn
2   Institute of Health Sciences, University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 09 June 2015

Publication Date:
02 September 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measurements with ultrasound have recently been introduced to assess body fat in elite athletes. However, appropriate protocols and data on various groups of athletes are missing. We investigated intra-rater reliability of SAT measurements using ultrasound in elite canoe athletes. 25 international level canoeists (18 male, 7 female; 23±4 years; 81±11 kg; 1.83±0.09 m; 20±3 training h/wk) were measured on 2 consecutive days. SAT was assessed with B-mode ultrasound at 8 sites (ISAK): triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinal, abdominal, front thigh, medial calf, and quantified using image analysis software. Data was analyzed descriptively (mean±SD, [range]). Coefficient of variation (CV%), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, 2.1) and absolute (LoA) and ratio limits of agreement (RLoA) were calculated for day-to-day reliability. Mean sum of SAT thickness was 30.0±19.4 mm [8.0, 80.1 mm], with 3.9±1.8 mm [1.2 mm subscapular, 8.0 mm abdominal] for individual sites. CV for the sum of sites was 4.7%, ICC 0.99, LoA 1.7±3.6 mm, RLoA 0.940 ( *  /÷1.155). Measuring SAT with ultrasound has proved to have excellent day-to-day reliability in elite canoe athletes. Recommendations for standardization of the method will further increase accuracy and reproducibility.

Key words

subcutaneous adipose tissue - skinfold thickness - elite athletes - body composition - ultrasonography
 

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