Anthropometric skills in sports science and its significance [in Japanese]

Anthropometry is a technique to measure physical characteristics (body size, shape of specific body parts and proportion) of living beings, including men. Anthropometry has been widely applied in a broad range of disciplines, such as ergonomics and health sciences. Because of its convenience, anthropometry has also been applied to understand physical characteristics of athletes in the field of sports science which targets improvement of athletic performance. Since correct application of anthropometric techniques and interpretation of the information assist management of health status in athletes and also improves their performance, it is important that support staff in the athletic fields, including sports dieticians, share the knowledge associated with anthropometry. To date, the measurement protocol proposed by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) has been recognised as an international standard for anthropometric measurements in health and sports science and has been applied across many countries . In addition, there are countries that encourage health professionals to acquire ISAK qualification. In Japan, a lack of human resources who are capable of conducting appropriate anthropometric measurements has been a concern across disciplines. Reducing the shortage of human resources with appropriate measurement techniques has been considered a future challenge. It is hoped that the international measurement protocol such as that by ISAK to be recognized widely in the sports sciences also and will lead to development of human resources skilled in anthropometry.|||||||||| 要　旨 　形態測定はヒトなど生物の身体的特徴(特定の部位のサイズや形状、プロポーション)を計測する技術である。形態測定は人間工学や健康科学をはじめとして幅広い専門領域で活用されており、主にスポーツ選手のパフォーマンスの向上を目的としているスポーツ科学でもその利便性のため選手の身体的特徴の把握を目的とした様々な用途に活用されている。形態測定から得られる情報は正しく判断し活用することでスポーツ選手の健康状態の管理やパフォーマンスの向上につなげることができるため、スポーツの現場ではスポーツ栄養士をはじめとするサポートスタッフの多くが形態測定に関する技術や知識を共有することが大切である。現在健康･スポーツ科学の専門領域において国際基準とされているInternational Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry（ISAK）形態測定基準は世界の多くの国で使用されており、政府がスポーツ科学関係者に対してISAK基準に則った計測技術の習得を支援している国も存在する。日本では形態測定が関連するほぼ全ての専門領域において測定を適切に行える人材の育成が課題とされており、スポーツ科学の分野でも今後このような国際基準の認識が広まり人材の育成につながる事が期待される。