Soccer Turf Info | Are There Risks to Playing Soccer on Infilled Artificial Turf?

Although lower leg injuries can occur in all athletes, there is evidence that deep cleats, such as those used by soccer players, may dramatically increase the likelihood of severe non-contact injuries such as ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears of the knee.

Soccer cleats on turf surface during play

Athletes experiencing these injuries often describe "getting stuck," which may be due to the soft material base or getting their cleats tangled in the artificial grass blades. Furthermore, many of these fields are thought to be "maintenance free," but in actuality require regular maintenance to avoid becoming overly soft and increasing the risks to the athlete. Learn more about the general health and injury patterns related to artificial turf installations.

The Scientific Evidence

Concerns regarding the shoe-surface interface are backed by growing biomechanical research and clinical studies:

Rotational Traction & Torque

It is not only recent news, such as NFL players who are blaming infilled artificial turf for their injuries. The American Journal Of Sports Medicine, in an article published March 5, 2009 entitled, "Football Playing Surface and Shoe Design Affect Rotational Traction," concluded that infill artificial surfaces exhibited significantly greater rotational traction characteristics than natural grass.

Key Finding: Infilled artificial turf had the highest rotational stiffness and peak torque among all artificial surfaces studied. The only cleat pattern that produced the lowest torque on these surfaces was a turf-style cleat.

ACL Strain Measurements

A January 2010 study published in the Journal of Biomedical Engineering entitled, "The Effect of the Shoe-Surface Interface in the Development of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Strain," evaluated exactly how forces travel up the legs of athletes.

Statistical Data: Cleats used with modern turf resulted in a 45% higher strain to the ACL when compared directly with cleats used on natural grass.

Collegiate & Institutional Player Data

In a rigorous study tracking performance and injuries among college players, researchers found a significantly higher rate of ACL and lower leg injuries on infilled artificial turf compared to grass surfaces. This is consistently corroborated by medical tracking groups, including published literature showing that overall athletic injury incidence is fundamentally higher on artificial turf surfaces.

What's Involved in ACL Surgery?

The Mechanics: It Is Not a "Repair"

In a complete ACL tear, the short, stubby ligament in the back of the knee is permanently destroyed. Thus, an "ACL repair" is not really a repair at all, but rather a "re-creation."

In children, most often the orthopedic surgeon will harvest part of the patellar (knee cap) tendon, along with a small portion of bone at each end of the tendon. These bone ends are then sewn back into the original ACL tendon insertion locations. In adults, the tendon is often harvested from cadaver donors.

The Recovery Timeline & Reality

Recovery from ACL surgery is a long and painful process, especially for children and teens. The knee is completely immobilized at first by a rigid brace. Subsequently, special machines are required which passively increase the range of motion. Hours of physical therapy are then required.

Although ACL surgery is now widely performed through small incisions, the harvesting of the patellar tendon requires a large incision, and the procedure demands general anesthesia. To minimize these scenarios, sports clinics emphasize proactively addressing turf versus grass field variables for sports injury prevention.

Most orthopedists recommend at least six months entirely without athletic activity, and some surgeons believe that it may take up to a year or more before the transplanted tendon is completely strong.

What You Can Do

The manufacturers of these infilled artificial turfs advertise them as "safe as grass" and state that there is "insufficient evidence" to prove whether they pose a risk for ACL tears.

But as a parent, your soccer-playing child has only two good knees. You don't need twenty, fifty, or one hundred studies showing you there is a definite risk. Your only concern, based on the studies cited, is that there is a possible risk.

Insist on Turf Shoes: Insist that your child be allowed to wear turf shoes rather than long soccer cleats when playing on infilled artificial turf, whether at a school or a soccer park. For a detailed breakdown of cleat structural layouts, review the ultimate guide to soccer cleats on artificial turf configurations.
League Education: Insist that soccer leagues, such as the Long Island Junior Soccer League, educate their referees so your child is not told to put on traditional soccer cleats during the pre-game "cleat check."
Demand Warning Signage: Inquire why signs are not posted at the entrances of fields recommending the wearing of turf shoes rather than soccer cleats to reduce the chance of injury. *(Note: Turf shoes do not guarantee that an ACL injury will not occur).*
Spread Awareness: Educate your child's coaches and your school's administrators about this critical structural safety issue.

Legal Disclaimer

SoccerTurf.Info is not a medical standard to be adhered to in all individual situations. SoccerTurf.Info specifically disclaims any and all liability for injury or other damages of any kind, from negligence or otherwise, for any and all claims that may arise out of the use of any recommendations or other information contained herein.