Risk of injuries the same on synthetic turf as on natural grass
9 Jun, 2011 By: Rick Doyle, Synthetic Turf Council Athletic Turf NewsSafety is a priority for athletes of all ages. Amateur and professional players alike don’t hit the field without helmets, padding and other gear required for their specific sports. But safety also needs to start from the ground up, with playing fields that provide strong support.
That’s one of the reasons synthetic turf can be a smart solution for playing fields that have become unsafe from overuse or severe climatic conditions. Most natural grass fields cannot remain lush and resilient if used more than three to four days a week, in the rain, or during months when grass doesn’t grow. However, synthetic turf can be utilized around 3,000 hours per year with no “rest” required, more than three times that of natural grass. The result is increased practice and play time as well as the valuable flexibility to use a field for other events.
Made with resilient materials for safety, synthetic turf sports fields also provide a uniform and consistent playing surface. Traction, rotation and slip resistance, surface abrasion and stability meet the rigorous requirements of the most respected sports leagues and federations.
Some players prefer synthetic turf while others swear by natural grass. Over the past few years, there has been speculation that one kind of surface is safer than the other. Yet recent studies indicate that the injury risk of playing on synthetic turf is no greater or less than playing on natural grass.
Three 2010 three long-term studies published by researchers from Norway and Sweden compared acute injuries on synthetic turf and natural grass. The studies examined the type, location and severity of injuries sustained by hundreds of players during thousands of hours of matches and training over a four to five year period. Many types of acute injuries to men and women soccer players, particularly knee injury, ankle sprain, muscle strains, concussions, MCL tears, and fractures were evaluated. The researchers concluded that the injury risk of playing on artificial turf is no greater than playing on natural grass.
This information substantiates earlier comparative research. An analysis by FIFA's Medical Assessment and Research Centre of the incidence and severity of injuries sustained on grass and synthetic turf during two FIFA U-17 World Championships. According to FIFA, "The research showed that there was very little difference in the incidence, nature and causes of injuries observed during games played on artificial turf compared with those played on grass." In addition, a 2004 NCAA study among schools nationwide comparing injury rates between natural and synthetic turf found that the injury rate during practice was 4.4% on natural turf, and 3.5% on synthetic turf.
If you would like to learn more about these studies and others, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.
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