Table 2

 Characteristics of acute injuries incurred during matches

GrassArtificial turfArtificial turf vs grass
InjuriesIncidence n/1000 h of exposure(95% CI)InjuriesIncidence n/1000 h of exposure(95% CI)Rate ratio (95% CI)†
*p<0.05.
†Rate ratios between injuries on grass and artificial turf, with grass as the reference group. Subcategories for injuries on gravel and indoor floors are not shown separately because of small numbers.
Total2308.3 (7.2 to 9.4)828.7 (6.8 to 10.6)1.0 (0.8 to 1.3)
Injury type
    Contusion742.7 (2.1 to 3.3)222.3 (1.4 to 3.3)0.9 (0.5 to 1.4)
    Sprain913.3 (2.6 to 4.0)434.6 (3.2 to 5.9)1.4 (1.0 to 2.0)
    Strain411.5 (1.0 to 1.9)60.6 (0.1 to 1.1)0.4 (0.2 to 1.1)
    Other240.9 (0.5 to 1.2)111.2 (0.5 to 1.9)1.3 (0.7 to 2.7)
Re-injuries381.4 (0.9 to 1.8)202.1 (1.2 to 3.1)1.5 (0.9 to 2.7)
    Ankle sprains220.8 (0.5 to 1.1)141.5 (0.7 to 2.3)1.9 (1.0 to 3.7)
Body location
    Upper body431.6 (1.1 to 2.0)121.3 (0.6 to 2.0)0.8 (0.4 to 1.6)
    Lower body1876.8 (5.8 to 7.7)707.4 (5.7 to 9.2)1.1 (0.8 to 1.4)
        Groin80.3 (0.1 to 0.5)10.1 (−0.1 to 0.3)0.4 (0 to 2.9)
        Thigh321.2 (0.8 to 1.6)70.7 (0.2 to 1.3)0.6 (0.3 to 1.5)
        Knee311.1 (0.7 to 1.5)181.9 (1.0 to 2.8)1.7 (1.0 to 3.1)
        Ankle823.0 (2.3 to 3.6)384.0 (2.8 to 5.3)1.4 (0.9 to 2.0)
        Other341.2 (0.8 to 1.6)60.6 (0.1 to 1.1)0.5 (0.2 to 1.2)
Time loss (days)
    1–71114.0 (3.3 to 4.8)252.7 (1.6 to 3.7)0.7 (0.4 to 1.0)
    8–21732.6 (2.0 to 3.2)262.8 (1.7 to 3.8)1.0 (0.7 to 1.6)
    >21461.7 (1.2 to 2.1)313.3 (2.1 to 4.5)2.0 (1.3 to 3.1)*