Influence of Sport Surface Properties on Utilized Traction and Lower Extremity Biomechanics of American Football Players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the athlete biomechanical differences across three artificial turfs associated with changes in athletic performance. Eighteen university grid-iron football players performed three modified football specific movements (agility drill, vcut, three-cone drill) on three artificial turf surfaces (Control, Shockpad and Low Faceweight) that have been shown to alter athletic performance. The utilized traction and player kinematics were recorded and compared between the surfaces using a repeated-measures ANOVA within participant factors of surface and between participants’ factors of player position. The significant effect of the surface on utilized traction at takeoff, and the frontal plane ankle angle was present with the players utilizing a lower traction and peak frontal plane ankle angle on the low-traction surface (Low Faceweight). During the agility drill and vcut, the significant effect of the surface was seen for peak frontal plane rearfoot–floor angle, with players having a flatter foot on high-traction surfaces (Control and Shockpad). Across tasks, high-traction surfaces were associated with flatter foot orientations and increased frontal plane ankle and foot kinematics during the cutting movements.