The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) was founded as an organisation of individuals whose scientific and professional endeavour is related to kinanthropometry.
ISAK's purpose is to create and maintain an international network of colleagues who represent the world community transcending geography, politics and the bounds of separate disciplines in order to establish a dynamic area of scientific endeavour.
Kinanthropometry is the area of science concerned with the measurement of human body composition. As a result of changes in life styles, nutrition, activity levels and ethnic compositon of populations, changes to the distribution of body dimensions are forever occurring. Kinanthropometry is the interface between anatomy and movement. It takes the measurement of the human body and determines it's capability for function and movement in a range of settings.
ISAK has developed international standards for anthropometric assessment and an international anthropometry accreditation scheme (IAAS). The accreditation scheme is based on the concept of a four-level hierarchy. A key element in it is the objective maintenance of quality assurance by requiring that all levels have to meet initial technical error of measurement (TEM).
An event of historical importance which occurred at Conference 1986 was the founding of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. On July 20, 1986, at Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow, Scotland, a meeting of 34 international delegates agreed to the foundation of "an organisation of individuals whose scientific and professional endeavor is related to kinanthropometry", the quantitative interface between human structure and function. It was decided to join the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) as an official Committee. The meeting adopted a constitution specifying an Executive Council of nine members.
The International Society for the Advancement of Kinathropometry (ISAK) is the offspring of the International Working Group in Kinanthropometry (a branch of the ICSSPE Research Committee). This group was founded in Brazil, at the ICSSPE meeting in Brasilia, on 11 September 1978. The group focused on the promotion and upgrading of kinanthropometric research. Their efforts led to the establishment of three international congresses on kinanthropometry and the inclusion of specialised sections in other meetings, such as the Olympic Scientific Congress of 1984. As the number of colleagues with mutual interests increased, it was decided to move away from exclusiveness of small committee to openness of new organisation which would serve more directly all who might be interested.
Date | President | Secretary-General |
---|---|---|
1986-1988 | Jan Borms | Jim Day |
1988-1992 | Gaston Beunen | Jim Day |
1992-1996 | Alan Martin | Jim Day (92-94), Mike Hawes (94-96) |
1996-2000 | J E Lindsay Carter | Mike Hawes (96), Kevin Norton (97-2000) |
2000-2004 | Mike Marfell-Jones | Kevin Norton (2000-02), Hans de Ridder (02-04) |
2004-2008 | Mike Marfell-Jones | Hans de Ridder |
2008-2012 | Hans de Ridder | Mike Marfell-Jones |
2012-2014 | Hans de Ridder | Clare Hencken |
2014-2024 | Mike Marfell-Jones | Francisco Esparza-Ros |
2024 to present | Francisco Esparza-Ros | Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal |
Date | Conference | Country |
---|---|---|
1986 | Glasgow | Scotland |
1988 | Seoul | South Korea |
1990 | Brussels | Belgium |
1992 | Malaga | Spain |
1994 | Victoria | Canada |
1996 | Dallas | EEUU |
1998 | Adelaide | Australia |
2000 | Brisbane | Australia |
2002 | Manchester | United Kingdom |
2004 | Thessalonika | Greece |
2006 | Melbourne | Australia |
2008 | Guanhzhou | China |
2010 | Estoril | Portugal |
2012 | Glasgow | Scotland |
2014 | Murcia | Spain |
2016 | Merida | Mexico |
2018 | Santiago de Chile | Chile |
2022 | Alicante | Spain |
2024 | London | United Kindow |
ISAK conference proceedings
ISAK is managed by an Executive Council which consists of five officers and up to five additional council members.
Council sub-committees are designated as Working Groups or Committees.
Current holders of these positions are listed below.
To help enhance communication to ISAK members and the anthropometry community, the Council is also supported by an Editor for the ISAK Newsletter.
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