Influence of the composition of artificial turf on rotational traction and athlete biomechanics

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Advances in artificial turf have made these surfaces behave similarly to natural grass, there is still debate as towhether artificial turf is as safe as natural grass in terms of athlete injury risk. Previous research has shownlinking rotational traction to lower extremity injury risk. Therefore, artificial surfaces have a potentialadvantage as the components can be manipulated to alter the rotational traction. In the previous Engage Grant,it was shown that components of artificial turf can influence both mechanical traction and athlete lowerextremity biomechanics. In order to further exploit the results of the initial Engage Grant, the influence thatadditional infill materials have on mechanical traction and athlete biomechanics will be investigated.Additionally, the total sample size of the study will be expanded to increase statistical power. The study willconsist of both mechanical and biomechanical testing. The mechanical testing performed in the first stage willdetermine the influence of each infill material of artificial turf on rotational traction. All mechanical testing willconsist of rotational traction testing using a proprietary robotic testing machine. Sample sections of artificialturf will be attached to the movable platform and a prosthetic foot will be fitted with a conventional cleatedshoe. Four samples of artificial turf will be constructed by FieldTurf with alterations in the infill material(Greenfield, EcoMax, ProMax V2, Walnut) with all other aspects of the turf remaining identical (fibre density,fibre length, infill compaction). Following mechanical testing, turf surfaces may be selected for further analysisif the mechanical testing results in significant differences in rotational traction from the conventional Controlsurface (conventional rubber infill). Biomechanical testing will determine the influence the new turf on thebiomechanics of the lower extremity resultant joint loading. Eight male athletes will perform a running v-cutmovement on a 3D force platform mounted in the center of a lab runway floor with each surface securelybolted to the force platform. Kinematics and kinetics will be collected and using an inverse dynamics approach,intersegmental forces and joint moments will be calculated from the motion capture and force data.