COMMON HAND WARTS IN ATHLETES - ASSOCIATION WITH TRAUMA TO THE HAND

Forty-nine members of a university track team and 80 members of the cr ew team were surveyed about warts on their hands. They were also quest ioned about the nature and extent of their exercise, the types of equi pment they used, and whether they wore protective gloves. Common hand warts were significantly more prevalent in members of the crew team th an in members of the track team (25% v 10%; p < .05), Although both gr oups lifted weights regularly, the crew team members were less likely to use protective gloves; they sustained additional trauma to their ha nds from almost daily exercise on rowing machines and river practice. College health providers should question patients with hand warts abou t types of athletic activity and should suggest that they protect thei r hands by wearing weight-lifter's gloves.