NFL players’ feet are put under huge stresses from the moment they step out onto the pitch. Naturally, the same goes for their boots. It’s essential for these to help enhance the players’ performance while offering protection from the risk of sprains and fractures. Lower limb injury is a major factor in both time lost during a game, and careers lost too early.
“A shoe is not just about performance, it is an important piece of protective equipment,” says Dr. Richard Kent, a professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia - and a member of the NFL Musculoskeletal Committee.
“A better-designed shoe can be a protective mechanism against injuries such as turf toe, Lisfranc fractures, and high ankle sprains,” he adds.
HP rose to the challenge of improving the design of cleats, so they gave players greater support, by reinventing the way boots can be selected for players.
HP’s solution marries hardware and software, capturing 3D scans of the foot. The system captures up to 500 precise measurements per second, with the high-quality 3D scanner containing nine cameras to automate length, width and arch-height calculation for a custom fit.
Other data is also gathered including foot pressure measurements and dynamic gait movement, to create uniquely digital profiles. The system uses proprietary algorithms to match the digital profile of a player with previously scanned 3D images of Nike, Adidas and Under Armour football boots.
The result is a boot that is perfectly matched to each sportsperson. Understandably, all 32 NFL teams have adopted HP’s technology for the start of the 2019 season.