How does playing on an artificial grass surface cause more non-contact sports injuries than playing on real grass surfaces?
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Artificial turf’s more unforgiving than natural grass, leading to higher injury rates. Hey, so I actually did some research on this for a sports science class last year. Artificial grass is made of synthetic materials, usually with rubber crumb infill. The surface is harder and less forgiving than natural grass, which means there’s more stress on your joints, especially your knees and ankles. It also has a higher coefficient of friction, making it grippier. That might sound good, but it can make quick pivots or sudden stops more dangerous because your foot can stick, leading to sprains and such.
Temperature’s another thing. Artificial turf gets hotter than natural grass, particularly in the sun. That means you’re more likely to get fatigued and dehydrated, which can also contribute to injuries.
Also, some people say that because artificial grass is so even and consistent, players might get too comfortable and take risks they wouldn’t on uneven natural grass. That’s more speculative though.
So yeah, it’s not just in your head—there’s real science backing the idea that artificial turf can be more risky in terms of injuries.
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