Comparison of Injuries in NFL Players by Playing Surface

This research article analyzes injuries sustained by National Football League (NFL) players over six seasons from 2016 to 2021, focusing on the differences between natural grass and artificial turf surfaces. The study hypothesizes that artificial turf types lead to a higher incidence of injuries compared to natural grass. A retrospective review of publicly available NFL injury data was conducted, examining patient demographics, injury types, and the playing surfaces involved. The results indicate that all injury types occurred more frequently on artificial turf than on natural grass, with specific statistics showing higher rates of ankle, hamstring, groin, quadriceps, ACL, MCL, and lower extremity fractures on artificial turf. The article also compares injuries between two types of artificial turf, slit film and non-slit film, revealing that slit film turf was associated with higher rates of certain injuries. The findings suggest that artificial turf surfaces pose a greater risk for injuries in NFL players, necessitating further investigation into the long-term effects of these injuries on players' careers.