A collection of medical research and articles we’ve found related to soccer injuries and artificial grass surfaces. Why take the chance? Get yourself some AG cleats to minimize the risk.
- Great research from former editor for WebMD, Laird Hamilton, CPT. about the topic with links to medical studies: https://sportswithoutinjury.com/truth-artificial-turf-injuries/
- Survey of professional soccer players and their opinions about injuries related to artificial grass. One pro player said “ [AG] doesn’t give like grass. If a foot gets caught in, it is more dangerous because the turf can’t dig up to release the foot”: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4108054/
- Interview with Alex Morgan of U.S. Women’s National Team in USA Today about playing on artificial surfaces. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2014/10/15/alex-morgan-us-women-artificial-turf-world-cup/17295011/
- Research paper found “Significantly more injuries occurred on artificial turf than on grass”: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0838.1996.tb00069.x
- NFL Players Association president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter interviewed about “You add in the increase in injury rate, just based on how synthetic turf is built and grass’ ability to tear away and release your ankles or your knees from compromised situations,” Tretter said. “When you put so much force and so much torque in the ground, eventually something has to give. When you’re on turf, it’s going to be your joint.” The analysis shows that players have a 28% overall higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries on turf. Non-contact knee injuries occur at a 32% higher clip and non-contact foot or ankle injuries are 69% percent more likely on artificial fields.: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-football-archive-9b34d4402f2f82ae60708605f65aa560