[Cutaneous circulation in sportsmen. A laser Doppler study].

The cutaneous blood flow serves a dual purpose: it feeds the skin but also, and chiefly, regulates body temperature. In this study variations in the skin blood flow of athletes were compared with those observed in non-athletes. We studied 18 non-athletes and 18 high-level athletes. Skin blood flow was measured before and after an exercise test, using a computerized laser Doppler system (PF3 periflux). After a physical exercise, athletes showed a significant increase of skin blood flow in areas of muscular activity, whereas this increase was half as much in non-athletes. Conversely, in areas other than those of muscular activity skin blood flow was reduced by 30% in athletes and increased by 100% in non-athletes. Intensive physical training therefore seems to generate a microcirculatory skin balance.