title: A Comparison of Methods for the Estimation of Body Composition in Highly Trained Wheelchair Games Players.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement in body composition measurements of wheelchair athletes using skinfolds, bio-impedance analysis (BIA) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) relative to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A secondary objective was to develop new skinfold prediction equations to estimate %fat for this sample. 30 wheelchair games players were recruited and the body composition outcomes of BIA, ADP, and skinfolds were compared to the DXA outcomes by a paired-samples t-test (systematic bias), intraclass correlation (ICC, relative agreement) and Bland-Altman plots (absolute agreement). Regression models to predict the %fat as measured by DXA by the sum of skinfolds or BIA were calculated. Results showed that the predictions of %fat when using BIA, ADP or skinfolds systematically underestimated the %fat mass as measured by the DXA. All ICC values, except for the measurement of fat (kg) by ADP (ICC=0.702), were below 0.7. New prediction models found the ∑7 skinfolds and calf circumference as the best model to predict %fat (R(2)=0.84). In conclusion, BIA, ADP and existing skinfolds equations should be used with caution when estimating %fat of wheelchair athletes with substantial body asymmetry, lower body muscular atrophy and upper body muscular development.
authors.affiliation: Loughborough University, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Leicestershire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goosey-Tolfrey
authors.affiliation: English Institute of Sport, Nutrition, Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.affiliation: Loughborough University, the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences Leicestershire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brooke-Wavell
authors.affiliation: Reade, Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Groot
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult