29-04-2025
Fifa to fund research into women's ACL injuries
Fifa is to fund research into whether hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles could be contributing to the rise in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women's year-long study at Kingston University London will begin next suggests female footballers are two to six times more likely to suffer the injuries than their male Miedema, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Sam Kerr are among the players to have suffered the injury over the past two years.
"We want to examine whether athletes may be more predisposed to injuries because of the functional changes in terms of their anatomy and physiology during the menstrual cycle," said Simon Augustus, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at the university."We know hormones fluctuate during different phases of the cycle but we don't yet know how much of an influence that may have on the risk of injury."Players from London clubs, including Fulham and Chelsea, as well as some in the grassroots game, will take part in the research by regularly having their blood and physical performance research will track hormone concentrations through their menstrual cycles, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, with previous research suggesting they could be linked to increased ligament laxity and decreased neuromuscular reaction that commonly lead to ACL injuries, such as rapid directional changes and landing after heading the ball, will be analysed to see if there is a correlation with hormone levels."We know some injuries are unavoidable, but we're attempting to help those individuals who injure their ACL outside of impact actions. Those are the ones where we might have more chance to intervene and prevent them from taking place by utilising strength training or tweaking technique," Augustus said."There are so many different factors involved with ACL injuries. We are starting to research this from an individual approach and look at an athlete's whole profile and putting protocols in place to reduce risk."
In May 2024, research from University College London, University of Bath and St Mary's University suggested players are more likely to get injured at certain points of their menstrual peer-reviewed study found 26 players they monitored were six times more likely to pick up a muscle injury in the days leading up to their period, compared to when they were on their Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), Fifpro, Nike and Leeds Beckett University have launched a separate three-year study into ACL injury will focus on environmental factors, such as facilities, the number of staff in ratio to their squad sizes, frequency of access to training facilities, travel and playing football boots, equipment and poor pitches have also been mentioned as other possible chief executive Paul Barber told BBC Sport last month that the club is preparing its own research to ensure the surface at their new women's team stadium is suitable.
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