Brandon Kramer
Through 10 weeks of the NFL season, there have been more Achilles tears than in recent years. Big names such as Aaron Rodgers, J.K.Dobbins, and Kirk Cousins have suffered tears this season. Rodgers and Dobbins had their injuries on the turf. Which begs the question, why does the NFL allow turf fields? I spoke with two orthopedic surgeons about the impact of turf on injury frequency.
Aaron Rodgers’ injury came on the dreaded Metlife turf; the turf has been controversial for years. In 2021, several 49er players complained about it after they lost two players to ACL tears in the same game. “Turf has been around long enough to show that on turf, there is an increase in injuries,” said Dr. Sameh Elguizaoui, MD, Orthopedic Sports Medicine(@sportsdocsam). The data is there; it is clear that turf causes more injuries than grass. Most people ask why it causes more injuries and what are the most common injuries on turf.
Dr. Elguizaoui explained, “When your foot gets planted, the forces get transmitted differently than on grass, which results in injuries.” For most Achilles tears, the foot often gets caught in the turf, which results in all the force going into the leg instead of the grass absorbing some of it. Most turf-related injuries are knee and ankle, such as ACL and MCL tears, ankle sprains, and Achilles tears.
Most doctors around the East Coast agree about turf. “There is a higher instance of injury on turf than grass; the ratio is 3:1 on turf and 2:1 on grass,” says Paul Smiley, Sports medicine-trained Orthopedic Surgeon at The Leigh Clinic in Boston. With all the data out there and NFL players voicing their concerns weekly, it makes you question why the NFL hasn’t agreed to switch all fields to turf. Nonetheless, the NFL must go to all grass fields to keep the players safe.
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