Scientific studies show that female footballers are up to six times more likely to suffer ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries than their male counterparts, with the situation reaching an alarming level.
Reigning Women’s Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas missed the 2022 European Championships due to an ACL injury, while high-profile stars Ellie Carpenter, Beth Mead and Christen Press have also suffered ACL injuries in the past few months, casting their participation in next year’s World Cup into doubt.
Furthermore, Ada Hegerberg, the first ever Women’s Ballon d’Or victor, missed nearly two years of action after suffering an ACL injury back in January 2020.
Watford Women defender Lois Edwards is another prime example, with the 20-year-old currently sidelined with her second ACL injury in just four years after rupturing the ligament against Oxford United Women in November whilst on loan at Gillingham Women.
Edwards previously suffered the same injury on the other knee back in 2019 during her time at Chelsea’s prodigious academy set-up and admitted to Park Life Sport that “it’s mentally challenging” to be forced to watch from the stands once again.
Describing the injury, Edwards said: “I planted my foot to go and kick the ball and then I got tackled quite badly. My foot stayed planted and my knee was forced the other way meaning I ruptured my ACL and tore my meniscus.”
University of Gloucestershire Sports Therapy student Lucy Burnett spoke to Park Life Sport about the prevalence of ACL injuries for women and revealed why women’s footballers are at a higher risk than male players. “Firstly, women generally have less muscle bulk around the knee joint making it more unstable & therefore more prone to a ligament injury,” she said.
“Hormones also play a huge factor in the prevalence of ACL injuries. During certain stages of a woman’s menstrual cycle, their ligaments become more lax, again making them more prone to an ACL injury.”
In addition, Burnett also discussed the danger of ACL injuries and how they can be stopped at source. “An ACL injury can occur through contact or non-contact,” she revealed.
@parklifesport_ Women’s footballers are up to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than their male counterparts 😳
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“The mechanism for an ACL injury without contact involves landing and either overextending at the knee joint, or quickly changing direction. The best way to prevent an ACL injury occurring is to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint as well as maintaining flexibility.”
If surgery on December 15 goes to plan, Edwards hopes to return to the pitch in October 2023, but the risk of another ACL injury will remain lingering in the background until effective prevention measures are found to reduce the risk for women’s footballers.
