Futrex 5500A-WL User Manual

FUTREX®-5500A/WL

BODY FAT AND FITNESS ANALYZER

FUTREX INC.
6 Montgomery Village Avenue
Suite 620
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Version 1.0

USER’S MANUAL

FUTREX-5000A/WL USER’S MANUAL

This manual provides you with all the information needed to operate the FUTREX-5500A/WL

Table of Contents

Appearance and Part Names....................................................................................................................... 3

Preparation .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Printer Paper Installation ............................................................................................................................. 5

Models of the Futrex Body Fat & Fitness Analyzers ................................................................................... 6

Percent Body Fat Estimation ...................................................................................................................... 7

Selecting the Biceps Measurement Site .................................................................................................... 15

Selecting the Triceps Measurement Site ................................................................................................... 16

Selecting the Thigh Measurement Site ...................................................................................................... 16

Adjusting the Body Fat Percentage Readout ............................................................................................. 13

Estimating Relative Fat Distribution ........................................................................................................... 14

Date Function ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Connecting the FUTREX to a Computer ..................................................................................................... 17

Printout Programs ..................................................................................................................................... 18

Fitness Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 18

Update Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 20

Youth Fitness Analysis................................................................................................................. 23

Color Fitness Analysis Reports .................................................................................................... 24

Function Mode .......................................................................................................................................... 29

Trouble Shooting ....................................................................................................................................... 34

General Specifications .............................................................................................................................. 38

Keypad Description ................................................................................................................................... 39

Note: FUTREX CAUTIONS THE USER AND/OR INDIVIDUAL TESTED TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF A HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONAL PRIOR TO UNDERTAKING ANY NUTRITION AND/OR EXERCISE PROGRAM.

Copyright © 2003 FUTREX, INC.

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Appearance and Part Names

Futrex-5500A/WL

Biceps

Locator

Optical

Standard

Light Shield RS-232 Cable

Light Wand AC Adapter

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Fitness

Wheel

Bodyometry™

Software

Preparation

1) Battery Installation

Insert 6 1.5V “AA” size alkaline batteries into the battery compartment located on
the rear of the Main Body. Be sure the batteries are oriented as indicated in the
battery compartment.

NOTE: Batteries must be alkaline type. Other types will not work.

2) Light Wand

Connect the Light Wand Cable to the connector jack located on the right hand
side of the Main Body.

It is recommended that the Light Wand always remain attached to the Main Body.
This will avoid possible damage to the connector.

3) A/C Adapter

Connect the A/C Adapter cable to the connector jack located on the right side
of the Main Body (the jack closest to the top of the unit).

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Printer Paper Installation

Remove the clear plastic cover from the printer.

Start feeding the paper into the slit inside the Paper Roll Compartment by pressing the PAPER FEED key.

NOTE: The paper must be thermal paper and cut square prior to inserting

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Models of the FUTREX Body Composition Analyzer

There are three models available for estimating percent body fat in humans:

• FUTREX-5500/XL

Estimates the percent body fat of Adults only (ages 18-80)

• FUTREX-5500A/ZL

Estimates the percent body fat of:

1.) Adults

2.) Adolescent Children (13-17)

3.) Pre-Adolescent Children (5-12)

When age is entered, the FUTREX-5500A/ZL automatically sets the instrument to the proper calibration (e.g. if you entered the
subject’s age as 14 during the Body Fat Measurement Sequence (page 7), the FUTREX-5500A/ZL will use its Adolescent calibration
to determine percent body fat).

• FUTREX-5500A/WL

Includes a special calibration for high school aged athletes (13-23) as well as all features of the FUTREX-5000A/ZL

CAUTION: This Manual is only for use with the FUTREX-5500A/WL

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Percent Body Fat Measurement

TO ESTIMATE PERCENT BODY FAT:

1.) Turn Power Switch ON.

The display will show a software version number (e.g. AO.51) and will then start a 15 second countdown.
The display will show Sd.

2.) Insert Light Wand into Optical Standard.

Be sure the silver stripe from the Light Wand is aligned with the silver stripe from the Optical Standard.

3.) Press the ZERO ADJUST Key. The display will now show 0.0. The zero adjustment
has been made.

Remove Light Wand from the Optical Standard.

Install the Light Shield on the Wand as shown in the sketch (allow the Wand to
protrude from the edge of the shield by about 1/8 of an inch). The Light Shield was
provided to ensure that no external light interferes with the estimation of percent
body fat. Therefore, this shield should always be used when estimating percent
body fat.

The FUTREX-5500A/WL is ready to start the body fat estimation sequence.

4.) The printer will ask “Athletic Cal: 1 = Yes, 2 = No” If the desire is to measure an athlete
between the ages of

13 and 23, press the “1” key, otherwise press the “2” key.

NOTE: If “1” (i.e. “YES”) is pressed follow steps 4a - 4k. If “2” (i.e. “NO”) is pressed, skip the following and go to Step 5.

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4a) The printer will ask “ENTER # SITES: 1 or 3”.

There are two alternative measurement methods.

• One Site Measurement - The measurement is on the midpoint biceps of the dominant arm (the arm used for
writing).

NOTE: If “1” is pressed, skip the following and go to Step 5.

• Three Site Measurement - The measurement is made combining data from three body sites:

• Biceps - The first measurements are at the midpoint of the biceps of the dominant arm; i.e., the arm

used for writing. Measurement point on the front of the arm midway between the armpit and the
inside of the elbow.

• Triceps - The second measurements are at the midpoint of the triceps of the dominant arm.

Measurement point on the back of the upper arm midway between the shoulder and elbow.

• Thigh - The third measurements are at the thigh. Measurement point on the front of the thigh

midway between groin line and the top of the patella (knee).

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4b) Press ENTER to start the body fat estimation sequence.

4c) Enter Weight in lbs. or kg. (refer to page 29 to switch between English and Metric Units). Press ENTER.

4d) Enter Height in inches or cm.

4e) Printer will show MEASURE BICEPS.

Place Light Wand firmly on biceps of the dominant arm (see page 15 for locating exact measurement point)

NOTE:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO: Aim the silver stripe of the Light Wand directly toward the shoulder. Keep the arm relaxed (do not permit
the subject to flex his/her muscle). A relaxed biceps can be achieved by having the subject seated while resting his arm (elbow
bent) on a table.

Use the Light Shield to block the external light. Always avoid measurements under strong lights (e.g. direct sunlight) because
errors may occur.

4f) Press GREEN BUTTON on the Light Wand

The display will flash a decimal point following the number “1a”.

CAUTION: Do not move the Light Wand while the decimal point is illuminated. The actual estimation is being made at that time.

Then the number “2a” will be displayed.

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4g) Remove the Light Wand and replace it on the same point on the biceps. Press GREEN BUTTON on the Light

Wand. The display will flash a decimal point, then the number “1b”.

4h) Place Light Wand firmly on Triceps of same arm (see page 16 for exact measurement point).

NOTE: Aim silver stripe directly toward the shoulder. Keep arm relaxed.

Press ENTER. The display will flash a decimal point. Don’t move the Light Wand until “2b” is displayed.

4i) Remove Light Wand and replace it on the same point on the triceps. Press ENTER.

The display will flash a decimal point. Don’t move Light Wand until “1c” is displayed.

4j) Place Light Wand firmly on thigh at same side of body that the arm was measured; e.g. if right arm, then measure

right thigh. (See page 16 for exact measurement point.)

NOTE: Aim silver stripe directly up the leg. Press ENTER. The display will flash a decimal point.
Don’t move Light Wand until “2c” is displayed.

4k) Remove Light Wand and replace it on the same point on the thigh. Press ENTER. Display will again flash a

decimal point. Don’t move the Light Wand until percent fat is displayed and printing starts.

NOTE: Steps 5 through 16 are not applicable. Those steps are for measurements using only the biceps.

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5.) Press ENTER to start the body fat estimation sequence.

6) Enter Age in years

NOTE: The age entered in Step 6 automatically places the instrument into the proper calibration for estimation.

(i.e. adults 18 and above, adolescents 13-17, pre-adolescents 5-12)

7) Enter Sex by pressing the MALE or FEMALE Key.

8) Enter Weight in lb or kg. Press ENTER.

9) Enter Body Frame by pressing the SMALL, MEDIUM or LARGE Key (not asked if the subject is bewteen the ages of 5 and 17).

There are many methods for measuring Frame Size. Futrex does not recommend any specific method but does offer two
techniques often used for determining frame size:

a) Ankle Girth

• Measure the ankle girth at the smallest point above the ankle with the tape as tight as possible.

• Standards

Small Frame Medium Frame Large Frame

Men Less than 8 inches 8 to 9.25 inches Greater than 9.25 inches

Women Less than 7.5 inches 7.5 to 8.75 inches Greater than 8.75 inches

b) Wrist Girth

• Place your left thumb and middle finger around your right wrist and gently squeeze your fingers together.

• Small Frame - Fingers overlap

• Medium Frame - Fingers touch

• Large Frame - Fingers do not touch

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NOTE: If you have long fingers, this method may
underestimate your frame size.

10) Enter Height in inches or cm (whole numbers only: e.g. 68 in. is acceptable). Refer to page 29 to switch between English
and Metric units. Press ENTER.

11) Enter F.I.T. Value (not asked if the subject is bewteen the ages of 5 and 17).
The following procedure provides a quantitative method to determine a subject’s Physical Activity Rating.

A person’s F.I.T. value is a function of 3 parameters:

• Exercise Frequency - How often the exercise is performed.

• Exercise Intensity - How much energy is expended during exercise.

• Exercise Time - How many minutes the exercise is performed during each session.

The F.I.T. value is calculated by multiplying all three parameters: F.I.T. = Frequency x Intensity x Time

The F.I.T. values help to account for the long term effects of physical activity.

When entering the F.I.T. values, you should consider what the individual’s average Frequency, Intensity and
Time have been over the past six months.

For example, if an individual has not been particularly active for a short period of time (i.e. several weeks), but had been
previously training for competitive athletics, you should take that previous training regimen into account for the F.I.T.
values. Conversely, if an individual has been training hard for a short time (i.e. several weeks), but was much less active
previously, you should take the previous light activity into account for the F.I.T. values.

11A) Enter Frequency Value. Press ENTER.

FREQUENCY 5 Daily or almost daily (6 or 7 times per week)

4 3 to 5 times per week
3 1 or 2 times per week
2 A few times per month
1 Less than once per month

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