Purpose: To determine how shoe-surface interaction, specifically traction and compliance, affects performance and biomechanics of soccer-related movements. Methods: Third generation artificial turf was installed in the laboratory to allow for kinetic and kinematic data collection both on the turf and on a laboratory surface (Pulastic sports surface). Twelve male athletes performed five 5 m sprint accelerations and five 180 sprint turns in three different shoe-surface conditions (indoor soccer shoe on the laboratory surface, indoor soccer shoe on the turf surface, soccer cleat on turf surface). Comparisons between the indoor shoe across surfaces indicated compliance effects and comparisons between the cleat and indoor shoe on turf indicated traction effects. Results: Performance increased for the sprint acceleration in the indoor shoe on the turf compared to the laboratory (1.04 s vs. 1.08 s); however, no further increase in acceleration performance occurred with the soccer cleat. For the turn movement, no change in performance occurred comparing the indoor shoe across surfaces however an increase in turn performance was seen when using the soccer cleat on turf compared to the indoor shoe (2.67 s vs. 2.56 s). The cleat had both increased utilised translational and rotational traction compared to the indoor shoe on turf for the turn movement. The cleat also resulted in increased ankle eversion moments as well as increased knee abduction and external rotation moments compared to the indoor shoe on the turf surface for the turn movement. Conclusion: Both compliance and traction shoe-surface characteristics affect performance; however, the effects of the different characteristics are different depending on the movement type.

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Background: Artificial turf (AT) has been related to increased injury rates when compared to natural grass (NG). One potential reason for the differences in injury rates is the difference in mechanical characteristics of the surfaces. Over the course of a season on artificial turf, due to heavy use and environmental factors, properties of the surface (such as compliance) may be altered. The purpose was to compare the effects of newly installed versus aged AT on injury risks at the metatarsophalangeal, ankle, and knee joint during soccer-specific movements. Methods: Eleven male soccer players performed three movements on newly installed and ‘aged’ AT. Kinematics and kinetics were collected for the different surfaces. Results: Knee adduction moments were increased during the v-cut (119 Nm vs. 164 Nm, p = 0.02), and knee external rotation joint moments were increased during the circle run (23 Nm vs. 28 Nm, p = 0.04) with the aged surface. No surface effects were seen during the jog-sprint transition. Conclusions: For movements associated with a high risk for non-contact injuries, the age of the AT resulted in greater risk factors for injury potential at the knee joint. Further research comparing injury rates associated with AT should consider mechanical features, specifically surface compliance.