Department of Sports Anthropometry

Department overview

In July of 1979, Sports Anthropometry as a subject was started at NSNIS, Patiala as a part of the Sports Medicine subject in the Master’s Course designed for professional coaches at the institute.

Thereafter, the academic council of the institute in the year 1981 introduced this science as a full-fledged subject in the teaching curriculum, under the title, ‘Human Growth and Sports Anthropometry’. This institute is credited as the first in India for the development of ‘Kinanthropometry’. From the year 1986, Sports Anthropometry is taught to Diploma course students enrolled at Gandhinagar, Bangalore, Calcutta, and Patiala. Presently, more than 700 students study this subject annually in the Academic Centres of the Sports Authority of India.

The students are given basic information about Kinanthropometry, selected body landmarks, the use of anthropometric instruments, and selected body measurements. Basic principles about using this knowledge in chosen sports are also imparted. Apart from this, the department also provides anthropometric assessment to the athletes of different sports disciplines who are undergoing sports training at NSNIS, Patiala under various schemes of SAI.

Main Focus

Anthropometric profiling of athletes of various sports.
Monitoring growth, maturation and performance and their impact on talent identification and development program.
Assessment of body composition and its effect on training, conditioning and nutrition.
Evaluation of physique and somatotype of athletes according to the demands of sports specific activities.

Testing Parameters

Details of the Anthropometric test parameters conducted on the athletes are as follows:

Anthropometric Test Parameters	Indices	Schemes
Height/ Stature Body Weight Sitting Height Arm Span Body Length, Breadth, Diameter measurements Circumference/ Girth measurements Skinfold measurements Body Composition Analysis	Body Mass Index Waist Hip Ratio Somatotype: – Endomorphy, Mesomorphy, Ectomorphy Body Composition: – Muscle Mass, Bone Mass and percent body fat	National Camp TOPS Khelo India NCOE STC etc.
Test report discussion with interdisciplinary sport sciences, coaches and athletes

Equipment

Following are the list of available anthropometric equipment at NSNIS Patiala:

S.No.	Equipment	Functions
1.	Anthropometric Survey Set containing: a) Anthropometric Rod (GPM) b) Sliding Caliper (GPM) c) Spreading Caliper (GPM) d) Skinfold Caliper (GPM) e) Measuring Tape (Hoechstmass) f) Vernier Caliper (Holtain) g) AP Caliper (Holtain)	To evaluate physique and body composition
2.	Body Composition Analyzer (Accuniq BC 720)	To measure muscle mass, fat mass, water content and body segmental analysis etc.
3.	BOD POD (Air Displacement Plethysmography, COSMED)	To measure fat mass and fat free mass
4.	Bioscan 920 (Maltron)	To measure muscle mass, fat mass and water content etc.
5.	Digital BMI Machine (SECA 284)	To measure height, weight and BMI
6.	Digital Stadiometer (SECA 274)	To measure height
7.	Digital Hand Grip Dynamometer (Baseline)	Use for accurate strength measurements
8.	Electronic weighing machine (EQUAL)	To measure body weight
9.	Postural Analysis Software (Posture Zone Georgia)	Analyzing and documenting Postural findings (static posture and body alignment)
10.	Segmometer (Cescorf)	Use for segmental length/breadth and measurement of body parts
11.	Sitting Height Table (Holtain)	To measure trunk length
12.	Sit and Reach Box (Baseline)	Used for sit and reach flexibility test
13.	Portable Anthropometric Chair (Solo Abadi)	To measure 34 dimensions of human body

Academics

Department is involved in teaching the following courses:

Master in Sports Coaching
Diploma in Sports Coaching
Diploma in Sports Medicine
Six Months Certificate Courses
Six Weeks Certificate Courses
Refresher Courses
Orientation Courses
Skill Development Courses etc.

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONs

Publication type: Book

Sodhi, H. S. (1991) : Sports Anthropometry: A Kinanthropometric Approach, Anova Publication, Mohali.
Sodhi, H.S. & Sidhu, L.S. (1984) : Physique and Selection of Sportsmen: A Kinanthropometric Study, Punjab Publishing House Patiala.
Singh, S.P. Sidhu, L.S. : and Singh, J. (1992). Skeletal Maturity: Growth Development and Physical Performance, Neelgagan Printer, Patiala

Publication type: Journal (2019 – till date)

Yumnam Momo Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Annu Pathania, Subrata Dey, (2019). Anthropometric Parameters between Female Kabaddi Players of Junior National Campers and SAI Training Centre Inmates, Entire Research, Volume-XI, Issue-I, p 29-33.
Jaswinder Singh, Jasmail Singh, Sunil G. Purohit, (2019). Physical Fitness and Somatotype Profile of Male JCT Phagwara Football and Hockey Players, Sports Research, Vol.8, No. 2, p 5-14.
Shyam Budaki, Yumnam Momo Singh, O.P.Yadav, (2019). Somatotype of National Level Male Wrestlers, Sports Research, Vol.8, No.3, p 31-36.
Yumnam Momo Singh & Jaswinder Singh, (2019). Anthropometric Profile of Indian Table Tennis Players, Sports Research, Vol.8 No. 4, p 5-11.
Jaswinder Singh, Y. Momo Singh & S.S. Kang, (2020). Morphological Differences of Punjab (Mastuana) and Himachal Pradesh (Bilaspur) STC Boxers Ranging from Age 16 to 20 years, Sports Research, Vol.9 No. 1, p 5-14.
Kulvir Singh, Yumnam Momo Singh, Sukhdeep Singh Kang, Atriya Neogi, Sanjeev Singh, (2021). Role of height and Arm Span in Morphological Optimization of Male Archery Athletes, Sports Research, Vol.10, No. 3&4, p 26-38.