Female Soccer Player's Anterior Cross Injury Related to Menstrual Cycle? FIFA Study Starts

Female Soccer Player's Anterior Cross Injury Related to Menstrual Cycle? FIFA Study Starts

Blog Article

FIFA will provide research funds in earnest to determine the cause of female soccer players' anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The BBC reported on the 30th that the research will be led by Kingston University in London and will be conducted for a year from May.

In particular, the study focused on whether hormonal changes occurring during the menstrual cycle affect the increased risk of ACL injuries. Various studies have already reported that female athletes are two to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than male athletes.

Simone Augusters, a professor of sports biomechanics at Kingston University, explained, "Depending on the physiological cycle, changes in anatomical and physiological functions are likely to affect the risk of injury." He added, "We know that hormones fluctuate with the cycle, but it is not yet clear how directly it is linked to the risk of injury."

The research team plans to regularly monitor blood and physical performance in players from local clubs in London and some amateur players. It tracks changes in oestrogen and progesterone concentrations periodically and analyzes their association with ACL injury risk behaviors such as rapid change of direction or jump landing. In particular, ACL injuries that occur in non-contact situations are of great practical significance in that they can be prevented through training or technical supplementation. Professor Augusters emphasized, "To reduce ACL injuries that occur in non-collision situations, we want to find ways to prevent them through strength training or technical modification."

The FIFA study is based on several previous studies that have recently been published. According to a 2024 University College London (UCL), the University of Bath, and the University of St. Mary's, female athletes have six times higher risks of muscle injury during the days before their periods than usual. The study, which tracked 26 players, supported the hypothesis that weakening muscle strength and decreasing response speed in the immediate period of menstruation may increase the likelihood of injury. Separately, the PFA, the International Football Association of Footballers (FIFPro), Nike, and the University of Leeds are pursuing a three-year ACL prevention study. The study deals with the effects of external factors such as facility environment, equipment, training schedules, and travel schedules on injury risk.

Inadequate soccer shoes and inappropriate stadium conditions were also pointed out as risk factors for ACL injuries. In a recent interview with the BBC, Brighton club CEO Paul Barber said, "We are conducting our own research on the optimal grass condition suitable for women's team stadiums." As such, it is urgent for women's soccer to take an approach that considers both the physiological characteristics of players and the infrastructure environment. 안전놀이터

An ACL injury can greatly affect a player's career. A series of major players' ACL injuries over the past two years, including Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead, and Sam Kerr, have raised serious warnings in the women's soccer community. BBC reported that the entire soccer community, including FIFA, is now making moves to respond scientifically to the problem. Building a soccer environment fit for female players has become a task that cannot be put off.