How uniform is your current sport or dance surface? How uniform are the surfaces you are considering for your new project? There is no way to tell using existing standards or performance rules. ASET believes that is a clear oversight by the entire manufacturing, testing, and architectural community. We completed a preliminary research project to develop a method of quantifying uniformity, allowing floors to be compared based on performance. We also examined the data and developed a classification system based on the uniformity values. This concept was recently presented at the 2024 annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, in Madison Wisconsin. The research was funded in part by Action Floor Systems, LLC of Mercer WI.
ASET believes that uniformity is important to athlete performance, comfort, and safety. Studies have found that Athletes adjust the stiffness of their legs in response to the stiffness of the surface they are on. We believe that as a floor become less uniform the athlete is required to constantly adapt to the surface. It is ASET’s opinion that reducing the level of adaptation would likely improve performance and comfort, reduce fatigue, likely reduce lower extremity injuries.
The fundamental reason that ASET conducted this uniformity research is that a uniformity index is needed enable sport/dance surfaces to evolve and to provide a better experience and environment for the athlete and performer. A uniformity index allows manufacturers to know when one floor system is more uniform than another, and for them to bring more uniform floors to the market. A uniformity index also affords architects and owners the ability to select, and even reject, designs based on the uniformity of the response.
The abstract to the 2024-ASB poster presentation may be downloaded with this link, and the poster can be found here. It offers a very condensed overview of the research as well as the calculations of the uniformity index and preliminary uniformity classifications. Contact ASET Services if you would like to learn more about this novel concept to elevate the performance of your systems and facilities.
Force Reduction Testing of Practice Facility