Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)

Advances in artificial turf have made these surfaces behave similarly to natural grass, there is still debate as tox000D
whether artificial turf is as safe as natural grass in terms of athlete injury risk. Previous research has shownx000D
linking rotational traction to lower extremity injury risk. Therefore, artificial surfaces have a potentialx000D
advantage as the components can be manipulated to alter the rotational traction. In the previous Engage Grant,x000D
it was shown that components of artificial turf can influence both mechanical traction and athlete lowerx000D
extremity biomechanics. In order to further exploit the results of the initial Engage Grant, the influence thatx000D
additional infill materials have on mechanical traction and athlete biomechanics will be investigated.x000D
Additionally, the total sample size of the study will be expanded to increase statistical power. The study willx000D
consist of both mechanical and biomechanical testing. The mechanical testing performed in the first stage willx000D
determine the influence of each infill material of artificial turf on rotational traction. All mechanical testing willx000D
consist of rotational traction testing using a proprietary robotic testing machine. Sample sections of artificialx000D
turf will be attached to the movable platform and a prosthetic foot will be fitted with a conventional cleatedx000D
shoe. Four samples of artificial turf will be constructed by FieldTurf with alterations in the infill materialx000D
(Greenfield, EcoMax, ProMax V2, Walnut) with all other aspects of the turf remaining identical (fibre density,x000D
fibre length, infill compaction). Following mechanical testing, turf surfaces may be selected for further analysisx000D
if the mechanical testing results in significant differences in rotational traction from the conventional Controlx000D
surface (conventional rubber infill). Biomechanical testing will determine the influence the new turf on thex000D
biomechanics of the lower extremity resultant joint loading. Eight male athletes will perform a running v-cutx000D
movement on a 3D force platform mounted in the center of a lab runway floor with each surface securelyx000D
bolted to the force platform. Kinematics and kinetics will be collected and using an inverse dynamics approach,x000D
intersegmental forces and joint moments will be calculated from the motion capture and force data.