Why does it hurt more to land on the wooden floor of a gym than on a padded mat?

The wooden floor exerts a greater force to give the same impulse as a padded mat.

Explanation:

-The wooden floor exerts a greater force for the same impulse as the padded mat.

-Unlike the wooded floor, the padded mat absorbs some of the energy when you fall. This in turn makes it exert less force on the body during the fall.

-Hence, you are less hurt when you fall on the padded floor.