Dealing with Lower Extremity Injuries on Grass and Turf introduction Football fans and medical providers have likely noticed increased debate regarding injuries and playing surfaces.
Dealing with Lower Extremity Injuries on Grass and Turf introduction Football fans and medical providers have likely noticed increased debate regarding injuries and playing surfaces. A recent study was published and supported by the NFL claiming that the injury rate for non-contact knee, foot and ankle injuries has been the same on both turf and grass. This was met with many players and the NFLPA releasing statements disagreeing with the data.
The NFLPA and many players previously released statements recently calling for all artificial turf fields to be replaced with natural grass. Many players released social media statements over the past few weeks. The NFL and NFLPA use a third-party company, IQVIA, to compile and analyze data on every injury suffered during every season.
Injury reporting is mandated across all 30 NFL teams within an electronic health record system in a robust and consistent manner, thereby eliminating the potential selection bias and variability inherent in similar studies. Injuries and the circumstances surrounding them (contact, impact, activity) are reported with necessary resolution to isolate injury type and mechanism in a structured manner during the course of clinical care by trained medical staff. The decision to install synthetic turf is driven by its multiuse capabilities, ease of upkeep, and controllability of playing conditions regardless of most weather conditions.
The potential for increased injury risk must be balanced against these desirable aspects of synthetic versus natural turf surfaces. Biomechanical testing of various football cleats on a variety of athletic surfaces has clearly shown differences between natural and synthetic turf in terms of the ability to create a divot, thereby releasing the cleat at loading magnitudes and rates generated during elite athletic competition. Synthetic surfaces lack the ability to release a cleat in a potentially injurious overload situation and therefore can generate much greater shear force and torque on the foot and throughout the lower extremity.
One recent study in 2019 by Mack et. Al concluded that lower extremity injuries had a higher incidence on artificial turf when compared to natural grass. A total of 4801 lower extremity injuries occurred over five seasons, affecting 2032 NFL players.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to incidence of lower extremity injuries in the nfl on grass versus turf, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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