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.
