JOINT LOADING WHILE PERFORMING A SIDE-STEP CUTTING MANOUEVRE ON ARTlClAL GRASS TURF WITH DIFFERENT INFILL DEPTHS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine differences in the joint loadings when performing side-step action on artificial grass turf with different infill depths. Significant changes in the ankle inversion angle (Ankle angle Y; p=0.01; ES=0.73), ankle inversion/eversion moment (Ankle moment Y; p=0.03; ES=0.54) and ankle abduction-adduction moment (Anklemoment Z; p=0.01; ES=0.76) at GRFSeak suggests greater loadings, in particular, at the ankle jint when performing the side-step manoeuvres on artificial grass turfs with thicker infill depths; indicating that all of the lower extremity adaptations to execute the stepside occurs at the ankle rather than the knee. A change in infill depths will cause the body posture to adopt a change in technique when executing the side-step manoeuvre. It is possible that greater joint moments elicited could be of risk to the athletes.