Abstract des Autors

The palm of the hand of the pelota player is exposed to repeated impacts of the pelota ball which weighs from 95 to 110 g. The player hits the ball hard, hundreds of times during a game, and probably millions of times during the career of a high-performance player. A survey revealed that there has been a reduction in the frequency of deep hematomas, the most common severe pathology, but also an increase in the number of Raynaud syndromes. This study concerns 95 pelota players who were divided into 4 groups: group A, 20 young players; group B, 30 players who participated in the national championship held in 1986; group C, 25 professional players; group D, 20 former players who had not played for 10 years. Results were compared with those obtained in a fifth group (E) composed of 10 players who used a pala (chistera, or glove). Clinical and routine photoplethysmographic studies of the index, middle and ring fingers were performed immediately before and after competition. An angiography was performed in 7 cases. Verf.-Referat