The predicted risk of head injury from fall related impacts on to third-generation artificial turf and grass soccer surfaces: A comparative biomechanical analysis

Theobald, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3227-7130, Whitelegg, L., Nokes, Leonard Derek Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9504-8028 and Jones, Michael David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6058-6029 2010. The predicted risk of head injury from fall related impacts on to third-generation artificial turf and grass soccer surfaces: A comparative biomechanical analysis. Sports Biomechanics 9 (1) , pp. 29-37. 10.1080/14763141003690245

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Abstract

The risk of soccer players sustaining mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) following head impact with a playing surface is unclear. This study investigates MTBI by performing headform impact tests from varying heights onto a range of third-generation artificial turf surfaces. Each turf was prepared as per manufacturers specifications within a laboratory, before being tested immediately following installation and then again after a bedding-in period. Each turf was tested dry and when wetted to saturation. Data from the laboratory tests were compared to an in situ third-generation surface and a professional grass surface. The surface performance threshold was set at a head impact criterion (HIC) = 400, which equates to a 10% risk of the head impact causing MTBI. All six third-generation surfaces had a >10% risk of MTBI from a fall >0.77 m; the inferior surfaces required a fall from just 0.46 m to have a 10% MTBI risk. Wetting the artificial turf did not produce a statistically significant improvement (P > 0.01). The in situ third-generation playing surface produced HIC values within the range of bedded-in experimental values. However, the natural turf pitch was the superior performer – necessitating fall heights exceeding those achievable during games to achieve HIC = 400.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Artificial, head, injury, soccer, turf
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	1476-3141
Last Modified:	17 Oct 2022 10:33
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/8405

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