As with all forms of body composition, the technology of bioelectrical impedance (BIA) requires standardized conditions when scanning to provide proper repeatability of measurements.
EVOLT 360 TECHNOLOGY
As with all forms of body composition, the technology of bioelectrical impedance (BIA) requires standardized conditions when scanning to provide proper repeatability of measurements. The technology reads impedance and reactance of tissue at a point in time which can differentiate Lean Body Mass from Body Fat Mass.
The human body is quite dynamic in response to training stimulus, nutrient partitioning and supplementation/medications so those things need to be taken into account with respect to scan readings. The technology is validated in science and used in medicine so generally, variabilities in scan results are mostly due to human factors, this is why we always ensure there are standardized conditions around testing.
The most important aspect of using BIA technology is to ensure the circumstances around comparison scans are controlled, so all scans need to be performed under the following conditions -
- The same time of the day of the scan
- The same hydration level (ie. the user should have consumed some water well before scanning)
- The same food consumption
- The same medications
- The same supplements
- The same caffeine consumption (we recommend no caffeine prior to scanning)
- The same phase of the menstrual cycle, ie. follicular phase or luteal phase (refer to the section on the menstrual cycle)
- The client must have full contact with the silver tactile points (particularly full contact with palms) and the client should have clean hands and feet. It is common for people to lose contact with their palms during the scan process which can lead to the impedance not reaching all 5 compartments
- The client should not have trained or be heated prior to scanning
KEY POINTS OF ASSESSING PROGRESS
You will see the key components on the scan to check are highlighted in yellow.
Whilst people always look at body fat percentage as a show of progression, the reality is that it is only a percentage of your total body weight and not always a reflection of how much body fat has changed. The best way to track body fat is to track Body Fat Mass in kilograms or pounds.
The largest margin of error can be seen by checking Total Body Water. Being a component of Lean Body Mass, this is where you can identify whether the scan result has been affected by a human factor that is influenced by something that has altered Total Body Water. This is why it is imperative to control the scanning conditions as much as possible.
This is also where it is important to note anything that can have an effect on Total Body Water such as –
- Inflammation from training load
- Medications prescribed ie blood pressure medication or non-prescribed ie marijuana, CBD
- Supplements such as cell volumizing products ie creatine, beta-alanine, pre-workouts etc.
- Carbohydrate dense foods
- Sodium
- Hormonal changes
- Severe temperature changes
- Caffeine
- Dehydration (it is common for people to not want to drink water before a “weigh in”)
- Alcohol