The ridge count in athletes of different sports

Aim. This paper was aimed at obtaining the ridge count in volleyball players, track-and-field athletes, and cross-country skiers to identify their dermatoglyphic peculiarities. Material and Methods. Dermatoglyphic analysis was performed on 126 athletes, including 60 adolescent volleyball players and 60 young athletes (30 cross-country skiers and 30 track-and-field athletes). The ridge count was measured between a, b, c, and d triradii. The results obtained in Tyumen athletes were compared with those of Chelyabinsk athletes. Results. Tyumen athletes did not show significant age or sex differences in the ridge count. Bilateral asymmetry of the ridge count was not found. Volleyball players demonstrated the following peculiarities: on the left palm, the ab ridge count was higher than that of track-and-field athletes and cross-country skiers; female volleyball players showed higher ab ridge count values on the left palm. Conclusion. In volleyball players, high values of the ab ridge count were obtained. The ridge count, along with other digital and palmar dermatoglyphic patterns, can be used for forecasting activities.