The Friction and Traction Characteristics of Various Shoe-Surface Combinations With Different Vertical Loads

The purpose of this study was to examine the shoe-surface interface of AstroTurf and natural grass using different footwear and varying vertical loads, and to measure the effects that these variables have on the coefficient of friction. It was hypothesized that AstroTurf produces more friction than natural grass and that a linear relationship exists between force and vertical load.

The PENNFOOT friction and traction testing apparatus was used to examine various shoe-surface interface combinations at different vertical loads. Testing was done using 4 Reebok football shoes on AstroTurf and natural grass at normal loads of 890, 1112.5, and 1335 Newtons.

The results showed that more friction was produced on AstroTurf than on natural grass. Also, the multicleated grass shoe provided more traction than the 7-studded, cleated shoe. Finally, a linear relationship exists between frictional or tractional force and vertical load.

Year	Entry
1972	Bramwell ST, Requa RK, Garrick JG. High school football injuries: a pilot comparison of playing surfaces. Med Sci Sports. 1972;4(3):166-169.
1996	Torg JS, Stilwell G, Rogers K. The effect of ambient temperature on the shoe-surface interface release coefficient. Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(1):79-82.
1971	Torg JS, Quedenfeld T. Effect of shoe type and cleat length on incidence and severity of knee injuries among high school football players. Res Quart. 1971;42(2):203-211.
1974	Stanitski CL, McMaster JH, Ferguson RJ. Synthetic turf and grass: a comparative study. Am J Sports Med. 1974;2(1):22-6.
1989	Ekstrand J, Nigg BM. Surface-related injuries in soccer. Sports Med. July 1989;8(1):56-62.
1986	Andréasson G, Lindenberger U, Renström P, Peterson L. Torque developed at simulated sliding between sport shoes and an artificial turf. Am J Sports Med. 1986;14:225-230.
1990	Levy IM, Skovron ML, Agel J. Living with artificial grass: a knowledge update, I: basic science. Am J Sports Med. July 1990;18(4):406-412.
1992	Powell JW, Schootman M. A multivariate risk analysis of selected playing surfaces in the National Football League: 1980 to 1989. Am J Sports Med. 1992;20(6):686-694.
1974	Torg JS, Quedenfeld TC, Landau S. The shoe-surface interface and its relationship to football knee injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1974;2(5):261-269.
1990	Skovron ML, Levy IM, Agel J. Living with artificial grass: a knowledge update, II: epidemiology. Am J Sports Med. September 1990;18(5):510-513.
1974	Adkison JW, Requa RK, Garrick JG. Injury rates in high school football: a comparison of synthetic surfaces and grass fields. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1974;99:131-136.
1975	Bonstingl RW, Morehouse CA, Nievel BW. Torques developed by different types of shoes on various playing surfaces. Med Sci Sports. Summer, 1975;7(2):127-131.

Year

Entry

1972

Bramwell ST, Requa RK, Garrick JG. High school football injuries: a pilot comparison of playing surfaces. Med Sci Sports. 1972;4(3):166-169.

1996

Torg JS, Stilwell G, Rogers K. The effect of ambient temperature on the shoe-surface interface release coefficient. Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(1):79-82.

1971

Torg JS, Quedenfeld T. Effect of shoe type and cleat length on incidence and severity of knee injuries among high school football players. Res Quart. 1971;42(2):203-211.

1974

Stanitski CL, McMaster JH, Ferguson RJ. Synthetic turf and grass: a comparative study. Am J Sports Med. 1974;2(1):22-6.

1989

Ekstrand J, Nigg BM. Surface-related injuries in soccer. Sports Med. July 1989;8(1):56-62.

1986

Andréasson G, Lindenberger U, Renström P, Peterson L. Torque developed at simulated sliding between sport shoes and an artificial turf. Am J Sports Med. 1986;14:225-230.

1990

Levy IM, Skovron ML, Agel J. Living with artificial grass: a knowledge update, I: basic science. Am J Sports Med. July 1990;18(4):406-412.

1992

Powell JW, Schootman M. A multivariate risk analysis of selected playing surfaces in the National Football League: 1980 to 1989. Am J Sports Med. 1992;20(6):686-694.

1974

Torg JS, Quedenfeld TC, Landau S. The shoe-surface interface and its relationship to football knee injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1974;2(5):261-269.

1990

Skovron ML, Levy IM, Agel J. Living with artificial grass: a knowledge update, II: epidemiology. Am J Sports Med. September 1990;18(5):510-513.

1974

Adkison JW, Requa RK, Garrick JG. Injury rates in high school football: a comparison of synthetic surfaces and grass fields. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1974;99:131-136.

1975

Bonstingl RW, Morehouse CA, Nievel BW. Torques developed by different types of shoes on various playing surfaces. Med Sci Sports. Summer, 1975;7(2):127-131.

Year	Entry
2012	Luo G. Limiting Factors for Curved Sprinting Performance [PhD thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; September 2012.
2012	Wannop JW. Footwear Traction and Lower Extremity Non-Contact Injury [PhD thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; August 2012.
2014	Schrier NM. Using Kinetics to Determine Slip Probability in a Movement Associated With a High Risk of Slip Occurrence [Master's thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; September 2014.

Year

Entry

2012

Luo G. Limiting Factors for Curved Sprinting Performance [PhD thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; September 2012.

2012

Wannop JW. Footwear Traction and Lower Extremity Non-Contact Injury [PhD thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; August 2012.

2014

Schrier NM. Using Kinetics to Determine Slip Probability in a Movement Associated With a High Risk of Slip Occurrence [Master's thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; September 2014.