Author(s) :

Hudson Le.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This narrative review examines previously published literature investigating the association between playing surface type and lower extremity injury rates in American football across high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Injury rates reported in prior studies were descriptively compared after standardization to injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures (AEs). No new primary data were collected for this review. The results of the previously published literature indicate that the injury rates differ depending on the level of play. In high school and collegiate levels, differences in injury rates between turf and grass surfaces are inconsistent, while at the professional level, numerous studies indicate that injury rates to the lower extremities are higher in synthetic turf surfaces compared to natural grass surfaces.