Cambridge Sports & Exercise Medicine Unit

working in partnership with Addenbrookes NHS Trust

Measurements should be made on the right side of the body
Calipers should be placed 1-2 cm away from the thumb and finger
- perpendicular to the skin fold
- halfway between the crest and the base of the fold
Release the calipers lever so its spring tension is exerted on the skinfold
Maintained pinch while reading calipers
Read dial on calipers
- Between 1 to 2 seconds after lever has been released
- Nearest 0.5 mm
allows time for skin to regain normal thickness before re-measuring

Triceps
- Vertical fold
- Posterior midline of the upper arm
- Halfway between the acromion (shoulder) and olecranon processes (elbow)
- Arm held freely to the side of the body
Chest/Pectoral
- Diagonal fold
- Men: one-half the distance between the anterior axillary line (crease of the underarm) and the nipple
- Women: one-third of the distance between the anterior axillary line and the nipple
Midaxillary
- Vertical fold
  - Midaxillary line at the level of the xiphoid process of the sternum.
- Horizontal fold
  - Level of the xiphoid/sternal border in the midaxillary line.
Subscapular
- Diagonal fold
- 1 to 2 cm below the inferior angle of the scapula
Suprailiac
- Diagonal fold
  - Anterior axillary line (modern technique)
    - immediately superior to the iliac crest
    - in line with the natural angle of the iliac crest taken
  - Mid-axillary line (traditional technique)
    - Superior to the iliac crest
Abdominal
- Vertical (modern technique)
  - 2 cm or 1" to the right side of the umbilicus
- Horizontal fold (traditional)
  - 2 cm to the right side of the umbilicus
Thigh
- Vertical fold
- anterior midline of the thigh
- midway between the proximal border of the patella (upper knee) and the inguinal crease (hip)