The Safest Turf on Earth

Nothing is more important than the safety of the athletes who play on FieldTurf artificial grass fields. And while no sport can ever be completely injury-free, we continue to find new ways to reduce the risk and severity of injuries. Our focus on safety has led to numerous injury-reducing innovations and improvements. As a result, we have the products and experience to help you provide the most stable, safest playing field possible for your athletes.

The findings of a long-term testing program show that FieldTurf is safer than any other synthetic turf system and equal to – if not better than – natural grass in most critical areas of player safety. No other company can make this claim. Just take a look at the results:

Studies Show FieldTurf is Safer than Natural Grass

An independent, three-year study of competitive college football showed that when compared to natural grass the FieldTurf system leads to:

• 74% Fewer Muscle Tears
• 42% Lower ACL Trauma
• 32% Fewer Ligament Tears
• 22% Fewer Severe Injuries
• 19% Fewer Substantial Injuries
• 12% Fewer Concussions
• 10% Less Injury From Shoe Surface Interaction during Contact
• 8% Less Injury From Shoe Surface Interaction during Non-Contact
• 7% Fewer Total Injuries

An independent, five-year safety study of competitive high school football showed that when compared to natural grass the FieldTurf system leads to:

• 55% Fewer Neural Injuries
• 47% Fewer Cranial / Cervical Injuries
• 38% Fewer 3rd Degree Injuries
• 45% Less Time Lost to Long-Term Injuries (Lasting 22+ Days)
• 35% Less Time Lost to Short-Term Injuries (Lasting 1-2 Days)

NCAA Soccer Injury Study Proves FieldTurf Safety

The NCAA Injury Surveillance System conducted a two-season study of American college and university men and women’s soccer teams during games and practices. The results showed: 

• No major differences between the overall incidence, severity, nature or cause of injuries sustained on artificial turf and natural grass
• No concussion injuries sustained on artificial turf as a result of player-to surface contact
• 13% of concussions sustained on grass by men and 7% by women were caused by player-to-surface contact
• Women experienced 11.2% of player-to-surface injuries on artificial turf and 15.5% on grass
• Men experienced 6.6% of player-to-surface injuries on artificial turf and 7.8% on grass

Tests Show FieldTurf has the Best Head Impact Response

Laboratory impact tests compared the head response of three artificial turf systems: FieldTurf; a system comprised of rubber and sand infill; and a system of all-rubber infill. Drop tests were done from various heights, with impacts to a mannequin headform. The results were clear:

• FieldTurf showed the lowest headform Gmax
• In bare-head tests, FieldTurf showed the lowest headform peak acceleration Gmax
• At four-foot drop heights, FieldTurf’s Gmax response was 98% greater than more shallow infill systems

FieldTurf has the Best Traction

Test results prove that FieldTurf provides the ideal level of traction when compared to any other natural or synthetic surface. You can use the same kind of cleated shoes on FieldTurf as you would on natural grass.

 

Want More? Read the Studies and Watch the Videos

 

 

Sources  

• A Five-Year Prospective Study. Bill S. Barnhill, MD; Michael Myers, PhD. FASCAM. March 2003.  
• Injury Incidence, Etiology, And Severity Of Game Related High School Football Injuries On Fieldturf Versus Natural Grass. New England Journal of Medicine. October, 2004.  
• Biokinetics and Associates. December 2004.
• Biomechanica. Martyn Shorten, PhD, Jennifer Himmelsbach, MS. January 2002.