Abstract:
BACKGROUND: It has been found that internal factors such as anatomical structure, hormone level and neuromuscular function of athletes are closely related to the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and external factors such as the material of the playing field also become one of the risk factors affecting the occurrence of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries, but they are relatively under-attended in the current studies.
OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of artificial turf versus natural grass on the biomechanical performance of the lower limbs in young females during jump-landing.
METHODS: According to the test needs, artificial turf and natural grass in accordance with the standards of GB/T 20033.3-2006 and GB/T 19995.1-2005 were leveled and fixed on two three-dimensional force measuring platforms. Twenty-one young females were voluntarily recruited and completed the jump-landing task on the artificial turf and natural grass. Subjects stood on the steps and then jumped forward, jumped down to the force measuring platform and immediately jumped with full force to the force measuring platform again. The two landings were required to fall to the two force measuring platforms, and the whole jumping action was considered successful without any pause. The kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic data of the lower limbs during the landing process were collected synchronously to compare and analyze the differences between the two.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In terms of kinetics, posterior and vertical ground reaction force at the initial landing moment during jump-landing on the natural grass were significantly lower than those on the artificial turf (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), as well as at the peak ground reaction force moment (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Additionally, the knee flexion moment when jump-landing on the natural grass was higher than that on the artificial turf (P < 0.01). In terms of electromyography, within 100 ms after the initial landing moment, the electromyography activity levels of medial femoris muscle, lateral femoris muscle and anterior tibialis muscle when jump-landing on the natural grass were significantly lower than those on the artificial turf (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). To conclude, compared with the natural grass, jump-landing on the artificial turf leads to an change in biomechanical performance that will cause an increase in anterior cruciate ligament tension.

Key words: artificial turf, natural grass, jump landing, biomechanics, young females