ASummaryof:Impactofworkperformanceonbodyproportionsin

Blacksmiths:Asomatometricanalysis
Introduction
The human body reacts to outside influences. Within the study of human body
morphology, the manner in which a person works determines how their body adapts and
evolves. The researchers of the paper chose to study this topic due to the increase of
intellectual careers and how the general physique of workers is declining. This topic is
respectable due to an increase of White Collar or office careers and general avoidance of
Blue Collar or physical labor intensive careers. While there is a great percentage of the
population that works physically, the general notion is to get a job that will receive a higher
salary for lesser physical work done.
The scientists gathered information from the body types and proportions from
blacksmiths working within a certain geographical area. They did so to gather information on
the changing of body types and structures due to occupation and possibly genetics. They
sought to discover if occupation would change body structure in the current subject and in
his or her offspring. Would those in society choose careers or occupations that would give a
beneficial body composition and type? As stated within the paper, The present study has
been conducted with a view to highlight the impact of physical work performance on the
body proportions with special reference to find out the level and range of bilateral
asymmetry in the body morphology of blacksmiths. (Singh, Singh, & Sekhon, 2012)
Methods and Materials
To research their topic, 200 adult males were measured by their upper limbs, lower
limbs and trunk regions to asses their proportionality. This would allow the researchers to
create proportionality profiles and determine how symmetrical their bodies were. The results
would be processed and analyzed and then a standard deviation could be found. Then a
formula of Relative Index of Asymmetry used to generate how symmetrical the test subjects

were, could be ran to determine how much of a difference the blacksmiths career affected
the development of their body.
74 measurements were taken of each individual. 30 were used to determine the
mean and standard deviation of anthropometric weight and size measurements of several
muscles around their bodies. 26 measurements found the base z-score values of the same
muscle systems and features. The last 18 measurements found the asymmetry in body
breadths, circumferences, segmental lengths and skinfolds of the subjects.
Results
Maximum bilateral differences (D) between right and left side of skinfold thicknesses
has been found in triceps skinfold (1.22mm) and minimum in forearm skinfold (0.83mm).
Maximum value for relative index of asymmetry (RIA) has been found in biceps (14.08%)
and minimum in suprailiac skinfold thickness (5.97%). In case of body circumferences
maximum and minimum bilateral differences in right and left sides has been observed in
thigh circumference (1.51cm) and wrist circumference (0.38cm) respectively, and
percentage distribution of asymmetry is maximum in thigh circumference (3.16%) and
minimum in calf circumference (1.83%). (Singh, Singh, & Sekhon, 2012) These results can
be summarized by the following. The right side of the arms of the individuals were found to
be 0.83mm to 1.22mm larger than the left halves of their bodies. Said subjects are
asymmetrical in their muscle and frame structure with the commonality of the right side
being generally larger. So the results support the hypothesis done by the researchers in
saying that the environment affects and causes ones body to adapt due to constant strains
and pressures.
The results are consistent with common generalizations and understandings. Harder
labor using one main hand or side of body produces asymmetrical results on the bodies of
workers such as black smiths. However, were a study to be done on a group of workers who
use both extremities, more symmetrical bodies would be noted. The test group showed that
indeed an increase of size and shape of many if not all body parts would be determined by

force required for labor intensive careers and positions. Such a difference in size and
symmetry would not be noted within a group that would use both extremities equally.
Neither would any difference be found if the test group were of a White collar or non-labor
intensive career.
Discussion
The Body Mass Index demonstrates how much fat a person has on their body and
how much a person should have. The blacksmiths of the test group were found to have a
BMI lower than the average for their age groups, height and weight. Therefore, the labor
intensive careers would benefit those involved by possibly adding to their ability and
efficiency to work. The researchers felt confident that enough data was gathered and ended
their experiment. One activity could have brought greater accuracy, subjects measured from
several different countries and geographic regions would have increased the accuracy of the
study.

Bibliography
Singh, A., Singh, S., & Sekhon, J. (2012, 01 02). Impact of work performance on body
proportions in Blacksmiths: A somatometric analysis. Human Biology Review , 138150.