Abstract

The controversy over the growing injury rate in football being directly related to the increasing use of the artificial playing field is critically examined in the present review paper. The unique qualities of artificial turf and their associated injury problems are analyzed, with injuries being classified on the basis of severity and their debilitating effects. It is concluded that playing football on artificial turf, as compared to natural grass, results in more minor injuries while the incidence of major injuries, with the exception of severe knee and ankle problems, remains unchanged. With regard tothis latter classification of injury, it was found that the artificial surfacedoes not, in itself, need to cause excessive shoesurface friction, thereby enhancing foot-fixation and the probability of knee and ankle injury. However,artificial turf does possess the potential for dangerous levels of traction due to a number factors involved with boththeartificial surface itself, and with the football cleat. Verf.-Referat