Most of us are familiar with
somatotyping, in that a person leans toward an endomorphic, mesomorphic,
or ectomorphic frame and dimensions (relative to height and weight),
although everyone has a little of each characteristic. However,
determining one's somatotype is far more scientific than merely
looking at someone and giving an estimate, particularly since
one's somatotype changes over time.
We have investigated some excellent
software by www.SweatTechnologies.com,
which incorporates the universally used and accepted Heath-Carter
equations (see the free 'method' instructional manual on determining
mesomorphic types at www.Somatotype.org).
This is fascinating stuff, and at a price of $49 US, it is well
worth the modest price, particularly since the program perform
all the extensive calculations in a matter of seconds.
Like other anthropometrics, such
as body composition and girth measurements, you can track your
own or your clients' somatotypes to determine changes over time,
to better support and understand body composition changes. Reports
can be developed that compares a person to him or herself over
time, or to other clients in various disciplines (e.g., types
of exercise modalities, such as aerobic vs. strength training).
For example, the Somatotype software comes with a 500+ size database
of athletes from the Montreal Olympic Games (and each person's
anthro data!), and so you can compare yourself or a client to
the world's best Olympic lifters, gymnasts, etc. in body shape,
size and composition.
The Somatotype Calculation and
Analysis software has its user's guide (and various printouts
from the program) on site, and so many of the unique features
and purposes can be viewed by visiting Sweat
Technologies and downloading the PDF file. The methodology
of this software and its uses (as well as the basis of somatotype
classification) will be expanded upon in a future report, when
we look at the Ross Craft
anthropometric tools and anthro measuring standards.
This software is recommended
highly for any fitness clinician or professional, and comes with
the IART stamp of endorsement.
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