2. Body types
• There are three main body types: mesomorph, endomorph and ectomorph.
Mesomorph
• This body type tends to be the athletic type – angular with broad shoulders
Session 5
and narrow hips.
• A mesomorph body type has little body fat and well-toned muscles. They
have medium to large frames and their shoulders are usually wider than
their hips.
• They tend to become muscular easily and don’t have a problem losing
weight or fat. A mesomorph tends to have:
• wide broad shoulders
• muscled arms and legs
• narrow hips
• narrow from front to back rather than side to side
• a minimum amount of fat .
3. Session 5
Endomorph
An endomorph is usually ‘round-shaped’. They tend to have a high
proportion of body fat and wide hips.
Endomorphs tend to put weight on easily, and fatty deposits are often
found around the abdomen, thighs, hips and shoulders.
Endomorphs tend to have:
• a pear shaped body
• wide hips
• wider front to back rather than side to side.
• hands and feet tend to be small
• neck and limbs short.
4. Session 5
Ectomorph
An ectomorph tends to be lean, angular with small joints and long limbs.
They are usually thin with narrow hips and shoulders and very little body fat or
muscle, and find it hard to gain weight.
Ectomorphs usually have:
• narrow shoulders and hips
• a narrow chest and abdomen
• thin arms and legs
• little muscle and fat.
5. Session 5
Types of body fat
Soft fat
This has a jelly-like feel and is soft, fluid and easy to manipulate and mobilise. It
is most common in women following pregnancy around the abdomen.
Hard fat
This has a compact feel and is solid and firm to touch. It is difficult to
manipulate and mobilize.
Cellulite
The skin has a soft lumpy, pitted, uneven appearance; the skin may seem
tightly stretched. When the muscle is contracted or the skin squeezed the
appearance is increased. In some cases tiny nodules can be felt like grains or
rice under the finger tips.
6. Session 5
Cellulite
• Cellulite occurs when the fat deposits increase causing the cells to swell.
The compartments in the skin that hold the fat cells become distended
under pressure, restricting the tissue drainage in the surrounding area.
Collagen fibres become wrapped around the fat cells causing further
changes in the skin tissue. Where the fat cell compartments become
extended the supporting tissue strands become tight, causing the skin to
pull at the point where they are attached to the skin. This causes the skin
to become dimpled. The blood capillaries become leaky allowing further
fluid to collect so that there is excess fluid and impurities in the tissues.
Cellulite is mainly caused by
• Slowing down of elimination
• Accumulation of tissue fluid
• Change in the formation of the connective tissue in the subcutaneous
layers
(Handout 3)
7. Session 5
Cellulite continued
In some cases cellulite can be very sensitive to touch due to pressure from
tissue fluid on the nerve endings.
It can occur on thin people and has a variety of contributing factors.
The main ones are:
• Poor diet high in refined foods and caffeine
• Sluggish digestion (constipation) or poor eating habits
• Lack of activity
• Poor circulation
• Fluid retention
• Some medication can contribute to cellulite
8. Postural faults
The following are types of postural conditions that a therapist may encounter:
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Condition Characteristics
Flat back Pelvis tilted backwards, lumbar region of spine flat and hamstrings shortened.
The client will tend to look erect with square shoulders.
Pelvic tilt – unbalanced
pelvis
Tilts too far forward – the lumbar vertebrae become hyperextended.
Tilts too far back – the lumbar region can become flattened.
Lordosis Hollow back in the lumbar region.
Pelvis tends to be inclined forwards, the abdominal and hamstring muscles
become lengthened and stretched, lumbar muscles become shortened and the
gluteals weakened.
Kyphosis Exageration of the normal backward curve of the thoracic region in the spine.
Poking chin, round shoulders, pectoral muscles tend to be tight, shortened and
the upper back muscles overstretched and weak.
Scoliosis This a sideways deviation (lateral) of the curve of the spine, forming either an
S or a C. Commonly the thoracic vertebra are rotated. The primary curve may
vary in degree and a secondary curve develops below the primary curve to
compensate and maintain posture
This condition can lead to other faults such as one leg being shorter than the
other, one shoulder higher than the other, uneven scapula or pelvic tilts.
9. Session 5
Postural faults continued
Winged scapula The medial border of the scapula vertebrae protrudes backwards
away from the ribs. It is caused by a weakness in the serratus
anterior muscle
Knock knees (Genu valgus) there is an increased lateral angle of the tibia in
relation to the femur causing the angle of the knee to move inwards
from the hips. Women have a tendency to this postural fault due to
the increased width of the female pelvis.
Bow legs (Genu varus) the lateral angle of the femur to the tibia is reduced
causing the knees to become further apart
Flat feet (Pes planus) medial longitudinal arch is reduced giving reduced
stability to the foot
Dowagers hump This condition general develops over a period of time. The head
becomes tilted forward and there is extreme kyphosis. The
shoulders become rounded and movement is restricted in the area.
There is often an accumulation of fatty deposits at the lower cervical
and upper thoracic vertebrae.
Pigeon chest The sternum protrudes forward
Short limbs Limbs are not in proportion to the body.
10. Session 5
Postural faults continued
Winged scapula The medial border of the scapula vertebrae protrudes backwards
away from the ribs. It is caused by a weakness in the serratus
anterior muscle
Knock knees (Genu valgus) there is an increased lateral angle of the tibia in
relation to the femur causing the angle of the knee to move inwards
from the hips. Women have a tendency to this postural fault due to
the increased width of the female pelvis.
Bow legs (Genu varus) the lateral angle of the femur to the tibia is reduced
causing the knees to become further apart
Flat feet (Pes planus) medial longitudinal arch is reduced giving reduced
stability to the foot
Dowagers hump This condition general develops over a period of time. The head
becomes tilted forward and there is extreme kyphosis. The
shoulders become rounded and movement is restricted in the area.
There is often an accumulation of fatty deposits at the lower cervical
and upper thoracic vertebrae.
Pigeon chest The sternum protrudes forward
Short limbs Limbs are not in proportion to the body.
