Abstract
Background: Artificial turf (AT) has been related to increased injury rates when compared to natural grass (NG). One potential reason for the differences in injury rates is the difference in mechanical characteristics of the surfaces. Over the course of a season on artificial turf, due to heavy use and environmental factors, properties of the surface (such as compliance) may be altered. The purpose was to compare the effects of newly installed versus aged AT on injury risks at the metatarsophalangeal, ankle, and knee joint during soccer-specific movements. Methods: Eleven male soccer players performed three movements on newly installed and ‘aged’ AT. Kinematics and kinetics were collected for the different surfaces. Results: Knee adduction moments were increased during the v-cut (119 Nm vs. 164 Nm, p = 0.02), and knee external rotation joint moments were increased during the circle run (23 Nm vs. 28 Nm, p = 0.04) with the aged surface. No surface effects were seen during the jog-sprint transition. Conclusions: For movements associated with a high risk for non-contact injuries, the age of the AT resulted in greater risk factors for injury potential at the knee joint. Further research comparing injury rates associated with AT should consider mechanical features, specifically surface compliance.
Highlights
The first generation of artificial turf from the 1960s, characterized by high surface stiffness and friction properties, has been associated with increased non-contact injury rates when compared to natural grass [1,2]
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of simulated wear of artificial turf on internal joint moments at the metatarsophalangeal, ankle, and knee joint during soccerspecific movements
With the movements associated with a high risk for non-contact injury due to their explosive nature and high joint moments in the non-sagittal plane, such as the v-cut and circle run, the fact that the aged turf caused greater joint moments is a cause for concern as previous research has linked these joint moments with increased injury risk [32,33]
Summary
The first generation of artificial turf from the 1960s, characterized by high surface stiffness and friction properties, has been associated with increased non-contact injury rates when compared to natural grass [1,2]. Over the course of a season on artificial turf, due to heavy use and environmental factors, certain features such as the rubber/sand infill may become reduced and/or compressed, altering the traction and compliance features of this turf system [21]. The purpose was to compare the effects of newly installed versus aged AT on injury risks at the metatarsophalangeal, ankle, and knee joint during soccer-specific movements. Conclusions: For movements associated with a high risk for non-contact injuries, the age of the AT resulted in greater risk factors for injury potential at the knee joint. Further research comparing injury rates associated with AT should consider mechanical features, surface compliance
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