Janet A. Wessel

DETERMINATION OF BODY DENSITY BY AIR DISPLACEMENT, HELIUM DILUTION, AND UNDERWATER WEIGHING.

Many research workers have attempted to use density as an objective means of predicting the gross composition of live animals and human beings. Behnke et al. (1942) were able to determine the body specific gravity of human beings quite accurately by underwater weighing. This method has been used as the standard of comparison in subsequent studies ( Welham and Behnke, 1942; Broiek, 1946; Osserman et al., 1950; Dupertuis et al., 1951). The underwater weighing technique has also been widely used for predicting the composition of animal carcasses and cuts ( DaCosta and Clayton, 1950; Brown et al., 1951; Kraybill et al., 1952; Whiteman et al., 1953; Pearson et al., 1956; Price et al., 1957; Kirton and Barton, 1958). However, underwater weighing has limitations, and other methods must be used to determine the density of sick and infirm individuals and living animals. Several German workers ( Pfaundler, 1916; Pfleiderer, 1929; Bohnenkamp and Schmah, 1931) used a method called “air displacement” to determine the density of human beings. Kohlrausch in 1929 used the same method for studying the effect of exercise on dogs, and Liuzzo (1958) used air displacement to determine the body density of live guinea pigs. In 1953, Wasler and Stein developed the helium dilution method and used it to determine the density of live cats. Siri (1955) greatly improved on this method and subsequently used it to determine the body density of human beings . Two studies on determination of body density are reported herein. In the first experiment the objectives were to determine the densities of human beings by air displacement and to correlate these values with the densities obtained by underwater weighing. The purposes of the second study were to determine the densities of live pigs by air displacement and helium dilution and to correlate the values with body composition as determined by chemical analysis.

AGE TRENDS OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF BODY COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS IN WOMEN AGED 20-69 YEARS.

In the last two decades considerable progress has been made in the study of body composition and its interrelationship with work performance and aging. The area has been quite adequately reviewed (J. Broiek, 1961; A. Keys and J. Broiek, 1953; E. L. Reynolds, 1951). Considerable data exists today on men. There is relatively little information available concerning the body composition of women and less about the age associated changes in body composition and its relation to health and work performance.

Relationship between Grip Strength and Achievement in Physical Education among College Women

Abstract The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate the relationship between strength and achievement in physical education among 200 college women by comparing grip strength with grades in the instructional physical education courses and (2) to compare the results obtained on college women with those of college men in the study by Tinkle and Montoye reported in this issue of the Research Quarterly. A table of random numbers was used to secure the sample. The results indicated that grip strength among college women was significantly related to achievement in physical education instructional courses as measured by grades. Also, grip strength was found to be directly related to and probably dependent upon body weight and only indirectly related to height in college women. The relationship between grades in physical education and grip strength among college women substantiates the results of the college mens study.

Frequency Distributions and Standards of Anthropometric and Physical Performance Measures for College Women

Abstract Frequency distributions of the records of a random selection of 200 college women in a nonmajor required program on anthropometric and physical performance measures commonly employed in physical education were compared with best-fitting normal curves for the same data. A table of random numbers was used to secure the sample. A percentile table for the various measurements was constructed. It was concluded that various measurements commonly employed by physical educators give a non-normal distribution. Hence, the obtained distribution as found on various measurements in this study does not warrant treating these data as normal.

Physical performance and body form as related to physical activity of college women.

Abstract The problems of this study were to investigate the interrelationship of selected functional and body form measures, and to examine the differences between groups varying in activity levels. The volunteers for the study, 35 college women, were placed in activity groups termed “most active” and “least active” according to their response on an activity history-recall questionnaire. Functional measures included strength and flexibility. Strength was measured with a cable tensiometer and followed the procedures outlined by H. H. Clarke. Flexibility was measured using a Leighton Flexometer. Body form measures included height, weight, percent body fat, fat free body weight, specific gravity, and ponderal index. The range, mean, and standard deviation were computed for all parameters. The Pearson product-moment correlation was employed to determine interrelationships of all variables. Equality of variances among selected parameters was determined by the F test; Cochran-Cox and two sample t tests were use...

Effectiveness of a Bowling Aid to University Bowling Instruction

Abstract Two investigations were conducted to determine the effectiveness of a bowling aid to bowling instruction at the university level. In the pilot study (1960-61) 58 women students were matched (3 game bowling average) and placed into experimental (with aid) and control (no aid) groups. The training period with aid ran through the first 12 games and the non-training period through the last eight games. The experimental study (1961-62) employed 60 men and women students. The use of the aid differed from the pilot study and the training period lasted for only ten games. In addition, the subjects were separated into two ability groups (beginner and intermediate). In both studies each group was taught by the same instructor. Analysis of variance techniques were used to evaluate the differences observed. In each investigation the individual differences were highly significant, while between groups, game, and group × game interaction were not significant, with the exception of the pilot study (training per...