The NFL is using laser technology to reduce the amount of cleat- and turf-related injuries. Roughly 60 percent of injuries are suffered in the lower body, and Dr. Jeff Crandall, chairman of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine engineering sub-committee, says that needs to change.
"We’ll bring in laser scanners into the locker room. They’ll scan the feet. They’ll look at the shoes, in terms of the type of shoes for that position, as well as the shape that fits that foot. Our hope is that we’ll get optimized performance, in terms of safety,” he said.
Crandall also says that artificial turf plays a major role in foot and lower-body injuries.
Manufacturers are working toward layering additional padding in between the ground and the grass to cushion impact on tackles. Any changes would come over the upcoming years.