Shock absorption properties of synthetic sports surfaces: A review

Repeated impact loading during running is a risk factor in the etiology of overuse injuries. Shock absorption can reflect the degree of force attenuation when the heel lands first during movement. This study summarizes the major achievements in the existing literature regarding shock absorption from the engineering perspective and then suggests directions for further investigation. Studies have explained the influencing factors related to shock absorption from the synthetic sports surface itself. Some special measurement methods that can be used to assess vertical and horizontal shock absorption simultaneously are discussed. Numerical simulations related to shock absorption are reviewed, including how to acquire a constitutive model of the sports surface and simulate the manner of loading. Future work should aim to build “player movement-surface structure and material-player performance” relationship systems, with more accurate measurements of shock absorption properties in the vertical and horizontal directions and numerical models that can truly reflect actual movements. Solving these problems can strengthen the theoretical and practical understanding of the relationship between synthetic sports surfaces and injury, and athletes can develop more expert performance with fewer injuries.