Bioimpedance For Measuring Body Composition And Stress

Bioimpedance is most often associated with estimating body water composition. It can be a useful tool for helping individuals get into better shape while getting a more accurate reading of where they are. By old standards, most pro athletes and bodybuilders would be considered obese or fat. Obviously, this is a poor representation of where their tissue mass is at in regards to weight.

Bioimpedance analysis (often abbreviated as BIA) will always offer a much better overall picture. Generally speaking, the bioelectrical impedance equipment at a medical clinic will be more accurate than the at-home tools that can sometimes be thrown off by dehydration. It affects initial measurements because the user isn’t familiar with exactly how to use the tools.

Proper Bioimpedance Tools

Measurements are done with a resistance bioimpedance analyzer. Electrical instruments are used to take the current readings from a patient and analyze that data to give you the percentage breakdowns.

Based on this balance of how quickly the electricity travels through the cell versus where it doesn’t, you can get a decent reading. However, if dehydrated (like after a major workout or long summer hike) it can throw off the measurement a little bit. In the same way that taking blood pressure after physical activity isn’t a good idea.

Still, using an impedance analysis test as a way to measure a patient’s body composition and the resulting stress on the body is a step up.

What’s This All Mean?

Many people are coming around and content that body composition is a much more accurate gauge of overall health. Electrical bioimpedance can be a tool to help get the numbers that are far more helpful overall. The BioScan MSA and BioScan SRT uses similar technology as bioimpedance and these tools frequently complement each other. Please contact us to learn more on how BioScan can be integrated into your practice.