title: Assessment of subcutaneous adipose tissue using ultrasound in highly trained junior rowers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a large variety of body fat (BF) measurements, which differ in validity and reliability. The aim of this study was to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using ultrasound (US) in highly trained junior rowers in a field setting, establish fat patterning profiles, and compare the profiles between male and female athletes. Skinfold thickness (SKF) measurements were also taken and compared to US measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen athletes participated. US measurements were taken at eight sites and reported as a sum of SAT (D): DExcl(without embedded structures) and DIncl(including embedded structures). SKF was measured at three sites and reported as a sum of adipose tissue thickness (SUMSKF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean SAT thickness (DIncl) was 27.6 ± 12.4 mm for males and 65.5 ± 11.8 mm for females. Females had significantly more embedded structures than males (P = .016). Significant correlations were found (P < .001, r = 0.92) comparing SUMSKFto DIncland between SKF and US measurements at the thigh site (P < .001, r = 0.86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US is a suitable tool to measure BF in the field testing of athletes and enables measurements of SAT with an accuracy and reliability not reached before. The sum of thicknesses (DInclor DExcl) can be used to represent subcutaneous fat based on accurate measurements of uncompressed SAT thicknesses.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelso
authors.affiliation: a Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.|b Department of Health and Sports Medicine , University of Physical Education , Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Emese
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trájer
authors.affiliation: a Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Machus
authors.affiliation: a Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Treff
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Biophysics , Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: a Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steinacker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012767:Ships; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013177:Sports; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat; D013848:Thigh; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body composition; assessment; performance