Modern Synthetic Turf Can Cut Back Injuries

When a stadium or arena is built, one of the last things to be added is the surface where athletes will do their thing, playing for their teams, their careers, and their fans. They will get injured from time to time. It’s part of any sport. But advancements in synthetic turf can start contributing to cutting back leg and back injuries due to un-giving compacted ground.

Football, baseball, and soccer players specifically experience a lot of bodily contact with the grassy surface they are on, and even slight twisting or awkward landing can damage ligaments or bones. Common injuries to both of these sports are leg and back muscle pulls and tears from running and diving, abdomen and oblique pulls from sliding, and knee damage from repetitive impact with a hard surface. Golfers suffer similar long-term knee damage from repetitive walking on hard turf surfaces.

Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf builders are developing new and better ways for athletes to concentrate on their game without the interruption of so many injuries. Although turf cannot accommodate tackle and outfield wall injuries, it can at least soften the blow for anyone who happens to fall on it. Legendary Chicago Bears coach Dick Butkus was asked how it was to play on the “old turf.” Butkus responded, “Take your rug out onto the driveway and fall on it. That’s what it’s like.”

Multi-layered synthetic turf is allowing for the existence of a fill made from ground recycled tires and soft sand. And in accordance to the incredibly high percentage of athletes who prefer to play on grass instead of artificial turf, modern synthetic versions are so similar to genuine grass it is difficult to tell the difference.

The point? Every little bit helps. And if a softer playing surface will cut down on injuries due to contact with hard compacted ground, it’s a step in the right direction.