Effects of different sport surfaces on muscle performance

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of different sport surfaces on athletic performance by means of muscle performance. Twenty two elite male basketball players, aged between 17 and 28, participated in this study. This study was executed on 7 different sport surfaces: asphalt, synthetic grass, natural grass, tile powder, soil, wooden parquet and EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer). Leg strength (LS) and vertical jumping height (VJH) were measured at rest and after a given training protocol on each surface. Surface compliance was evaluated with a drop test using a medicine ball. Asphalt and synthetic grass were the most fatiguing, natural grass, soil and tile powder were moderately fatiguing, parquet and EPDM were the least fatiguing surfaces. The results of surface compliance were inconsistent with those obtained in LS and VJH tests. As the compliance of the surface increased LS and VJH increased, i.e. performance was decreased. The results of the present study suggest that it is better to use parquet and EPDM in construction of indoor sport surfaces. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to build outdoor surfaces with natural grass because of its aesthetic and visual impacts and its contribution to the amount of urban green area.(Biol.Sport 26:285-296, 2009)

Can the natural turf pitch be viewed as a risk factor for injury within Association Football?

“…Thus, the relative hardness or softness of a pitch may influence the loads and fatigue experienced by the musculo-skeletal system. 43,44,56 Failure to provide players with sufficient time for musculoskeletal adaption following pitch exposure could increase their risk of injury. This could be acute, causing immediate injury or through repeated exposure result in more chronic overuse injury 7 ( Fig.…”

“…This has been confirmed through demonstration of a negative relationship between surface compliance and oxygen consumption. 56 As a result, muscles need to work harder due to the energy depleting nature of the surface. Therefore, considered in isolation, playing on more compliant surfaces may induce localised muscle fatigue.…”

The influence of natural grass surface hardness on path changes, locomotive movements and game events in soccer: a case study

“…This combined with the knowledge that softer surfaces increase energy demands from players (Zamparo et al, 1992) indicates that playing soccer on softer surfaces is more physically demanding than on harder surfaces. Potentially a higher energy restitution association with a greater firmness of a surface may have caused a higher workload on the softer grass (Kerdok et al, 2002;Katkat et al, 2009). A lower impact peak on softer grass may be attributable to the inability to produce force rapidly (McGhie and Ettema., 2013) which may have altered joint movement patterns (Hamill et al, 1992), influencing the vertical deformation (Sánchez-Sánchez et al, 2014) and increasing the eccentric muscle activity (Richie et al, 1993).…”

“…A feature of a surface that affects athletic performance is the energy stored and returned (Baroud et al, 1999). The energy that an athlete requires for each jump, stride, step and landing movement is influenced by reused and returned energy from the surface (Katkat et al, 2009). This suggests that if a surface permits a greater energy return, an athlete can complete a given physical activity using less energy (Katkat et al, 2009).…”

“…The energy that an athlete requires for each jump, stride, step and landing movement is influenced by reused and returned energy from the surface (Katkat et al, 2009). This suggests that if a surface permits a greater energy return, an athlete can complete a given physical activity using less energy (Katkat et al, 2009). In the 2015/16 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, it was acceptable to play matches on artificial turf provided that such turf met the FIFA International Artificial Grass Standard (UEFA, 2015).…”