FIFA will be funding an academic study at Kingston University to investigate whether there is a link between the menstrual cycle and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s soccer, which are more prominent than in men’s soccer.
Some well-known women’s players recently affected by ACL injuries include Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead and Sam Kerr — who has been out of the Chelsea lineup for 15 months.
“We want to examine whether athletes may be more predisposed to injuries because of the functional changes in terms of their anatomy and physiology during the menstrual cycle,” said Simon Augustus, a senior lecturer in sport biomechanics. “We know hormones fluctuate during different phases of the cycle, but we don’t yet know how much of an influence that may have on the risk of injury.”
The goal of the study, which is part of the FIFA Research Scholarship program, is to reduce the risk of injury by adapting training to individual athlete’s needs. The year-long project will begin in June with Kingston University experts working with clubs in South West London, including Chelsea and Fulham. Athletes who take part in the study will regularly visit the campus to have blood and physical performance…
