Segmental Body Composition in Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric methods by body segment with the values predicted by dual energy radiological absorptiometry (DXA) in athletes with spinal cord injury. Eight quadriplegic and six paraplegic athletes participated in this study. Body circumferences were measured at seven sites, skinfold thickness was measured at nine sites (on the right side of the body), and body composition was measured using DXA. Linear regression analysis was used to verify the associations between body composition and anthropometric measurements. Segmental measures that best explain fat mass as predicted by DXA were: a sum of the skinfold thickness in the arm (R-2 = .66; p < .01); in the trunk, subscapular (R-2 = .75, p < .01), midaxillary axillary (R-2 = .67, p < .01) and abdominal skinfolds (R-2 = .67, p < .01), and sum of trunk skinfold thickness (R2 = .67, p < .01); and in the leg, the calf skinfold and the sum of the skinfolds of the leg (R-2 = .70, p < .01; R-2 = .68, p < .01). The circumferences of the relaxed and tensed arms showed relevant relationships (R-2 = .52, p < .01, and R-2 = .57, p < .01, respectively) with the fat mass predicted by DXA. This suggests that segmental analysis of body composition through circumferences and skinfold thickness may be a good option for the accurate determination of body composition in athletes with spinal cord injury. The sum of cutaneous folds per segment strongly and significantly expressed fat mass predicted by DXA.