$Unique_ID{BRK00262}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Do Football Players Get Hurt More Often on Artificial Turf?}
$Subject{turf toe football artificial surface Accidents accident sport injury
injuries natural grass muscles muscle ligament tendon ligaments tendons sports
medicine athletic injuries knee shoulder leg}
$Volume{O-18, O-17}
$Log{
Muscles and Tendons of the Knee*0006201.scf
Anatomy of the Knee*0006601.scf
Anatomy of the Knee Ligaments*0015501.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Do Football Players Get Hurt More Often on Artificial Turf?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION:  This may not exactly be in your ballpark, but I hope you know the
answer so that we can settle a bet.  I bet that football players get hurt more
often on artificial turf.  Am I correct?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER:  It may not be my ballfield (what a terrible pun), but I am interested
in sports medicine, and athletic injuries.
     Sorry, but you can't accurately settle your bet for about two years.
According to the most recent information, the answer for now is that with the
available data on hand at present, we really can't say yes or no for sure.
     A new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) study found that in
1987 more college football injuries occurred on natural grass than on
artificial playing fields.
     That's surprising, isn't it?  Also, it is in contrast to several earlier
surveys, including one from the NCAA, which showed that more injuries happened
on artificial surfaces.
     Yet that year saw 171 injuries on grass and 145 on artificial turf.
Additionally, 12 of the 16 serious knee injuries were on natural grass; as
were 23 of 33 shoulder injuries.  However, more leg injuries--15 of 23--
happened on artificial turf.  Wide receivers and running backs were hurt more
frequently on artificial turf--40 to 22; linebackers and defensive backs more
often on grass--61 to 35.
     The chairman of NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical
Aspects of Sports says that it is too early to develop any absolute
conclusions from the study.  There really is a need for more statistics to
establish the trends and calculate the results.  At least two more years are
needed.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.