All forms of artificial surface are harder than grass, and make for speeded-up competition. Cross-training shoes or sneakers are the footwear of choice on artificial turf. Trainers and physicians frequently tape the feet and ankles of their players for added stability, especially on artificial turf. Proper taping can help prevent injuries from occurring, and keep a minor injury from becoming a major one. Injuries and Treatments Keeping the lower extremity healthy is so important to an athlete that most all professional football and soccer teams have a team podiatrists, who treats minor problems like corns, calluses, and blisters, to major injuries like fractures and dislocations.
Turf toe is a painful jam or hyperextension of the big toe.
The condition is more common on artificial turf, but can happen on grass as well. Immediate treatment includes the RICE regimen, and wearing a stiffer shoe prevents aggravation of the injury. Splinting the toe or special orthoses can also help. Ankle Sprains . Making contact on a firmly planted ankle can forcibly invert the joint and damage ligaments, resulting in a sprain.