Natural grass poses a greater concussion risk in football than artificial turf does Head-to-ground concussions on grass had more symptoms than those on artificial turf Symptoms were also more severe WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Natural grass playing fields pose a greater risk for young football players than artificial turf, a new study shows. Athletes who sustained a concussion on grass reported more than 10 symptoms, on average, compared with about six for those injured on artificial turf, researchers found.
Players on natural grass fields also had an average concussion symptom severity score of more than 26, compared with under 12 for those injured on artificial turf. “Many natural grass fields, especially at the youth level, may not be well maintained and can be harder and less forgiving than modern artificial turf, which has evolved significantly from the old, hard fields of the past,” said lead researcher , a professor of psychiatry, neurological surgery and neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. For the study, researchers analyzed data on 62 middle school, high school and college players, ages 10 to 24.
All of the players sustained a helmet-to-ground concussion during practice or play, and then went to a specialty concussion clinic within 14 days of their injury. Of the players, 33 were injured on natural grass and 29 on artificial turf, researchers said. Seven major symptoms were more likely to occur following a concussion on grass, .