FIFA has announced it will fund research into women’s ACL injuries through a year-long study at Kingston University London. The research project seeks to find whether changes in hormones during female athletes’ menstrual cycles could contribute to an increased risk in ACL injuries.
According to BBC, female athletes – specifically soccer players – are six times more likely to injure their ACL than men.
For the research study, female soccer players from local London clubs will be “regularly having their blood and physical performance tested.” Through this blood testing, FIFA and researchers hope to track hormone concentration levels, including oestrogen and progesterone, which could be linked to decreased reaction times and ligament laxity, which commonly lead to ACL injuries.
The BBC reported that “Scenarios 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.”
A 2024 research study from University College London and others found that the menstrual cycle can impact the likelihood of injury overall. And in 26 athletes, they were six times more likely to suffer a muscle injury in “the days leading up to their period, compared to when they were on their period.”
Now, FIFA and Kingston University London are hoping to take those findings one step further and apply them specifically to ACL injuries. Their research will be done alongside a Nike-sponsored study.
Simon Augustus, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at Kingston University London, said, “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. 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.”
