Risk of injury on artificial turf and natural grass in young female football players.
BACKGROUND
Artificial turf is becoming increasingly popular, although the risk of injury on newer generations of turf is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the risk of injury on artificial turf compared with natural grass among young female football players.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
2020 players from 109 teams (mean (SD) 15.4 (0.8) years) participated in the study during the 2005 football season. Time-loss injuries and exposure data on different types of turf were recorded over an eight-month period.


RESULTS
421 (21%) players sustained 526 injuries, leading to an injury incidence of 3.7/1000 playing hours (95% CI 3.4 to 4.0). The incidence of acute injuries on artificial turf and grass did not differ significantly with respect to match injuries (rate ratio (RR) 1.0, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.3; p = 0.72) or training injuries (RR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.5, p = 0.93). In matches, the incidence of serious injuries was significantly higher on artificial turf (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.2; p = 0.03). Ankle sprain was the most common type of injury (34% of all acute injuries), and there was a trend towards more ankle sprains on artificial turf than on grass (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.2; p = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study among young female football players, the overall risk of acute injuries was similar between artificial turf and natural grass.
Steffen
Kathrin
K
Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. kathrin.steffen@nih.no
Andersen
Thor Einar
TE
Bahr
Roald
R
D000293:Adolescent; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D006109:Poaceae; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000209:etiology*