A comparison of artificial turf.
BACKGROUND
In an attempt to decrease injuries, newer forms of artificial turf have been marketed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a new shredded rubber-based turf improves impact attenuation.


METHODS
An instrumented computerized impact recording device (IRD, Techmark, Lansing, MI) was dropped 20 times from a height of 48 inches onto five types of turf used by a professional football team.


RESULTS
Duncan's multiple range test shows that the new rubber-based field and the older foam field are not significantly different. There were significant differences, however, between sites on the shredded rubber-based field.


CONCLUSIONS
The change from a foam-based system to a shredded rubber-based system had no effect on impact attenuation overall. However, areas in the shredded rubber-based field were significantly compacted, causing some sites to be much harder than the foam-based surface it replaced.
Naunheim
Rosanne
R
Departments of Emergency Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. naunheir@msnotes.wustl.edu
Parrott
Heather
H
Standeven
John
J
D000054:Acceleration; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D012408:Rubber
D012408:Rubber