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Privacy NoticeFollow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag In the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, at least 25 players will not be able to participate in matches due to ACL injuries. This year, Leah Williamson and Beth Mead are among them, unable to play in the Lionesses England Squad. And it turns our that women are 7 times more likely to tear their ACL than men. The injury can leave players out of action for up to a year – and it doesn’t only impact their football careers, it has a big impact on what they can do in their personal lives too. While it is unclear why the injuries are happening, some researchers have queried if it is because football boots are made specifically for men. And now some brands, including Nike, have began to develop female-only boots in a bid to tackle the problem.
This year, Leah Williamson and Beth Mead are among them, unable to play in the England Squad due to ACL injuries
(Image: Getty Images)
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What is an ACL injury? The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the key ligaments which helps stabilise the knee joint. It is torn most commonly in sports such as football where there are sudden stops and changes of direction. The influx of ACL injuries has been described as an ‘epidemic’ by some. It’s not a surprise that term is being used as in the last year, 195 women have suffered with the same injury, according to data from ACL Women Football Club. Speaking to Sky News, England defender Jess Carter said: “There’s been way too many women’s players who have had ACL injuries and not enough research that’s been done about it. “Why are there so many injuries? How can we prevent it? Why are they happening? A question I sometimes ask is: if this was happening to high profile men’s players, would more work be going in to try and improve things?”
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the key ligaments which helps stabilize the knee joint
(Image: Hugh de Paor/SPP/REX/Shutterstock)
Why is it happening? Dr Katrine Okholm Kryger, a senior lecturer in sports medicine at St Mary’s University spoke to the BBC about the issue in April. She explained that researchers had recently been discussing if the injury was happening more commonly in women due to their anatomy and hormones or due to their gender. Dr Katrine added: “We have to be really careful when we talk about this in women’s football because there is a tendency within research and within the media of being like ‘oh, women are so unstable, fragile, because of their anatomy, their hormonal fluctuations’ but we haven’t proven that is the cause of these injuries. Other factors which have been studied as to why the injuries affect women so much more include gender disparities with their training, workload and even their shoes.
Other factors which have been studied as to why the injuries affect women so much more include gender disparities with their training
(Image: Getty Images)
Why are ACL injuries so bad? If players do not have an ACL, the knee becomes and unstable and weak when they are moving around. Players depending on rapid side movements cannot play. Those who move forwards and backwards can sometimes wear a brace and continue to play. But the ACL cannot heal on its own. This is because there is no blood supply to the ligament. So athletes usually require surgery on an ACL injury to help it to heal. What boots did Nike release and why? Nike launched its new boots for women-only on 14 June- the Phantom Luna. While boots were marketed towards women in the past, they were not always properly designed for them and instead for white males. Players and doctors alike hope that more female-focused footwear which is actually suitable for them will appear on the market soon. It comes as new research by The European Clubs Association revealed that more than 80 per cent of women at top football clubs suffered pain because of their boots. A fifth of the women surveyed had customised their shoes to try and make them more comfortable while 82 per cent found them uncomfortable and were concerned their performance would be affected.
Nike launched its new boots for women-only on 14 June- the Phantom Luna
(Image: Nike)
It found that 82% felt discomfort which could affect their performance, while a fifth said they customised their boots in an attempt to improve comfort. While researchers are looking into whether shoes are causing ACL injuries, 34 per cent of female players reported discomfort caused by their shoes, especially in their heels Many of them had taken to using insoles from podiatrists and cut holes in their boots to prevent blisters and rubbing. What is being done to try and stop ACL injuries happening?
Doctors and researchers are trying to work with female football teams to ensure that they are well-prepared for the intensity of games
(Image: Getty Images)
Doctors and researchers are trying to work with female football teams to ensure that they are well-prepared for the intensity of games. At some universities, they are also carrying out tests on players, in the hope of reducing joint injuries. For example, the University of Roehampton assesses players to work out the mechanics of their limbs. They then develop specific and targeted training plans for athletes to try and reduce the risk of ACL injuries. Lots of research is also continuing to happen, trying to work out why women are so disproportionately affected by the injury. Some doctors are also pushing for there to be a huge pool of resources for female players to access about ACL injuries. Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterMore OnLionessesHealthFIFA Women’s World Cup
