The mechanics of American football cleats on natural grass and infill-type artificial playing surfaces with loads relevant to elite athletes
Kent R, Forman JL, Lessley D, Crandall J
Sports biomechanics · 15 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- In vitro/mechanistic study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- Cells or lab samples
- Main outcome
- Mechanisms only
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2015-04-03 · Sports Biomech · vol. 14 · issue 2 · pp. 246–257
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Cited
- 33 citations · more than 83% of similar papers · 1.7× the field average
- References
- 31 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Sports injuries and prevention · Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies · Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- Limiting, Rotational speed, Torque, Football, Mathematics, Materials science, Mechanical engineering, Engineering, Physics, Geography
- MeSH
- humans, poaceae, materials testing, movement, friction, torque, rotation, football, shoes, sports equipment, united states, athletic performance, athletes, biomechanical phenomena
4 authors
From US
- Richard W. Kent · correspondingUniversity of Virginia
- Jason Lee FormanUniversity of Virginia
- David J. LessleyUniversity of Virginia
- Jeff R. CrandallUniversity of Virginia
Abstract
This study quantified the mechanical interactions of 19 American football cleats with a natural grass and an infill-type artificial surface under loading conditions designed to represent play-relevant manoeuvres of elite athletes. Variation in peak forces and torques was observed across cleats when tested on natural grass (2.8-4.2 kN in translation, 120-174 Nm in rotation). A significant (p < 0.05) relationship was found between the peak force and torque on natural grass. Almost all of the cleats caused shear failure of the natural surface, which generated a divot following a test. This is a force-limiting cleat release mode. In contrast, all but one of the cleat types held fast in the artificial turf, resulting in force and torque limited by the prescribed input load from the test device (nom. 4.8 kN and 200 Nm). Only one cleat pattern, consisting of small deformable nubs, released on the artificial surface and generated force (3.9 kN) comparable to the range observed with natural grass. These findings (1) should inform the design of cleats intended for use on natural and artificial surfaces and (2) suggest a mechanical explanation for a higher lower-limb injury rate in elite athletes playing on artificial surfaces.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
Community trust
Loading…
How much do you trust this study's findings?
Comments
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inSomething wrong here?
Flag this study if its information, labels or funding look wrong. An editor reviews every flag.
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inEducational information about published research. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to start or stop anything.