Safety of Artificial Turf vs. Grass For Athletes

 

Fieldturf has been installed at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks.

The safety of synthetic turf for young athletes is an issue being raised by Lake Oswego, Ore., community members regarding the installation of two artificial turf fields at local high schools.

A Texas professor who completed an independent five-year study of Fieldturf, which the district plans to use, said he would choose the turf over natural grass.

?EUR??,,????'??When you look at traumatic injuries, that?EUR??,,????'???s the key,?EUR??,,????'?? said Michael Meyers, director of the Human Performance Research Laboratory at West Texas A&M University.

The study showed Fieldturf resulted in more non-traumatic injuries, such as muscle strains and tears. Players suffered more traumatic injuries, such as ligament tears in the knee and head injuries, while playing on natural grass, said Meyers

Fieldturf, which looks like plastic blades of grass, has already been placed on the district?EUR??,,????'???s high school football fields.
Meyers worked with a high school and college team doctor on the study, which evaluated eight high schools over five football seasons.

Meyers said that he would like to further study Fieldturf and the effects of hot weather on its surface which makes the turf more malleable.

Source: The Oregonian