Anthropometry and biomechanics: characteristics, principles and anthropometric models

Abstract

Due to the importance of interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity to the complex analysis of human movement, and in an attempt to seek to bring Kinanthropometry and Biomechanics closer together, through anthropometry, this review article was compiled in order to: present the historical evolution of anthropometry and the theoretical presuppositions on which its anthropometric models are based; to present anthropometry as a method for measurement in biomechanics; to describe the role and scope of anthropometry in biomechanics by discussing some of its applications and contributions. Initially, an analysis is made of historical and conceptual aspects and anthropometric models are presented and characterized together with their theoretical presuppositions and limitations. Anthropometry is then analyzed in the context of the different methods for measuring in biomechanics, studying its position within the process of analyzing human movement as a prerequisite of kinemetry and dynamometry and also of synchronized analysis. What follows is a re? ection on the role and scope of anthropometry within the analysis of movement, with examples from drawn from several studies, and an identi? cation of their respective contributions. Finally, some considerations resulting from this re? ection are presented; the degree of development of anthropometric models is identi? ed and the constant pursuit for improvement over recent years, with the use of ever more sophisticated techniques, is demonstrated.