ACL Injuries in Women’s Football: The Professionalisation Mismatch
A summary of the research:
The article discusses a problem in women's football called the “professionalisation mismatch” . This refers to how the sport is rapidly growing and demanding more from players, but the support and resources provided haven't kept up . Despite women's football becoming more professional over the last two decades, the number of serious knee injuries, specifically ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears, has stayed about the same . These ACL injuries are very serious for players, often causing long periods away from the game (like 9-10 months of lost playing time) and sometimes leading to long-term health issues like early knee arthritis . Because many high-profile players have had ACL injuries recently, it's a big concern . Protecting players from these injuries is really important for their careers and overall health .
The researchers tried to find studies on how to reduce ACL injuries in professional women's football but found very few strong research papers . This highlights a big gap in our understanding of why these injuries keep happening at a high rate . While some injury prevention programs exist and are used by some teams, things like players having other jobs or school, limited medical staff, and not having equal access to good training and recovery facilities make it hard to use these programs effectively . The article suggests that current prevention programs might not be right for the increasing demands and working conditions of professional women's football players . To solve this problem, the authors propose new steps, including studying current practices, listening to players and staff about their experiences, sharing data more openly, and getting different experts to work together to create better injury prevention plans .
Here are three key practical takeaways for coaches and administrators:
Recognize and address the 'professionalisation mismatch' in your team: The article highlights that growing demands on players (more games, intense play) are often not matched by resources like medical support, proper facilities, and recovery time . Coaches and administrators should actively assess the resources and support available to their players compared to the physical and mental load they face . Work with club leadership and leagues to advocate for improved access to qualified medical staff (like full-time physiotherapists), better training facilities, and adequate recovery periods to help mitigate injury risk .
Tailor and properly implement injury prevention strategies: While general injury prevention programs exist (like the 11+), the article suggests they might not be fully effective or appropriate for the specific high demands and working conditions of professional women's football . Coaches and medical staff should work together to adapt existing programs based on the team's specific schedule, player training history, and available resources . Administrators can support this by ensuring adequate staffing levels for sports medicine and performance teams so that consistent and effective implementation is possible despite potential environmental barriers .
Involve players and staff in developing solutions: The article emphasizes that understanding the real-life experiences of players and staff is crucial for finding effective ways to reduce injuries . Coaches and administrators should create opportunities to listen to players and the multidisciplinary team staff (like doctors, physios, and strength coaches) about their challenges, working conditions, and ideas for improving player health and safety. This collaborative approach helps ensure that any strategies developed are practical, relevant, and supported by those who are directly involved.
Authors: Christina Y. Le, Stacey Emmonds, Alex Culvin, Vincent Gouttebarge
You can read the entire article here.
