Sean Williams
Elite Rugby Union on an artificial playing surface
Grant Trewartha
Simon P. T. Kemp
Keith A. Stokes
Influence on injury risk, abrasions and muscle soreness
Introduction
First professional
Rugby Union team to
play matches on an
artificial playing
surface.
Influence on injury risk,
abrasions and muscle
soreness is currently unclear.
Methods
Home
games on
artificial turf
Vs.
Away games
on natural
grass
Time-loss injuries
Abrasion injuries
Muscle soreness over 4 days
following the match via
Results
4
Fig. 1
Artificial turf
3
20
Fig. 2
*
Artificial turf
*
Natural
grass
10
*
2
*
Natural grass
1
0
0
20
40
60
0
80
1
Incidence [injuries per 1000 player h]
16
Artificial turf = 57 abrasions
Natural grass = 9 abrasions
Fig. 3
16
12
12
8
8
4
4
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Fixture on artificial turf
9 10 11 12
2
3
Days post match
4
Conclusions
No clear differences in time-loss
injury risk (Fig. 1), as shown in
other elite sports (Ekstrand et al., 2006).
Muscle soreness (slightly) higher
following matches on artificial turf
compared to grass (Fig. 2).
Abrasions more common on
artificial turf (Fig. 3), most are minor
and cause no time-loss.
Continued surveillance required!