This paper proposes a novel approach for the model-based pose matching of a human body using Active Shape Models. To improve the processing time of model creation and registration, we use a skeleton-type model instead of the conventional silhouette-based models. The skeleton model defines feature information that is used to match the human pose. Images used to make the model are for 600 human bodies, and the model has 17 landmarks which indicate the body junction and key features of a human pose. When applying primary Active Shape Models to the skeleton-type model in the matching process, a problem may occur in the proximal joints of the arm and leg due to the color variations on a human body and the insufficient information for the fore-rear directions of profile normals. This problem is solved by using the background subtraction information of a body region in the input image and adding a 4-directions feature of the profile normal in the proximal parts of the arm and leg. In the matching process, the maximum iteration is less than 30 times. As a result, the execution time is quite fast, and was observed to be less than 0.03 sec in an experiment.