Citation

Steffen K, Andersen TE, Bahr R. Br. J. Sports Med. 2007; 41(1): i33-i37.

Affiliation

Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center.Department of Sports Medicine, Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bjsm.2007.036665

PMID

17550919

PMCID

PMC2465249

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Artificial turf is becoming increasingly popular, although the injury risk on newer turf generations is unknown. Hypothesis: To investigate the risk to injury on artificial turf versus natural grass among young female football players. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: 2 020 players from 109 teams (15.4+/-0.8 years) participated in the study during the 2005 football season. All time-loss injuries and exposure data on different turf types were recorded throughout an eight-month period. RESULTS: A total of 421 (21%) sustained 526 injuries, leading to an injury incidence of 3.7 (95% CI 3.4 to 4.0) per 1000 playing hours. No difference was observed in the incidence of acute injuries on artificial turf compared to grass for match injuries (rate ratio RR=1.0 [0.8 to 1.3], P=.72) or training injuries (RR=1.0 [0.6 to 1.5], P=.93). In matches, the incidence of serious injuries was significantly higher on artificial turf (RR=2.0 [1.3 to 3.2], P=.03). Ankle sprains was the most common injury type (34% of all acute injuries), and there was a trend towards more ankle sprains on artificial turf than grass (RR=1.5, [1.0 to 2.2], P=.06). CONCLUSION: Among young female football players, the overall risk of acute injuries was similar between artificial turf and natural grass.

Language: en