The association and WSL Football have launched research into why the knee injuries occur and how to reduce them, inviting players and staff across the top two women’s leagues to take part.
The Football Association (FA) and WSL Football have launched a study into why anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur in women’s football and how they might be reduced. An ACL injury affects a ligament in the knee and often keeps footballers out for months.
Research suggests female footballers are two to six times more likely than male footballers to suffer an ACL injury.
Earlier FA-commissioned research tracked injuries across the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship from 2018 to 2023. Charlotte Cowie, the FA’s chief medical officer, said that while the number of ACL injuries had risen, the rate per 1,000 playing hours showed no statistically significant difference from season to season. She said more match time might explain the increase in numbers.
The FA funds the PhD study with Imperial College London and sports knee surgeon Simon Ball. Researcher Hanna Lehtovirta will lead it, BBC Football said. Players from every Women’s Super League and WSL2 club will be invited, along with medical, performance and coaching staff.
First, player surveys will collect information on injury history, training and match load, and hormonal, nutritional and psychological factors. Researchers will compare data from players who have suffered ACL injuries since 2018–19 with data from those who have not.
The second phase will interview players and staff about their views of ACL injuries and current approaches to training and prevention. Researchers say less is known about how potential risk factors—including anatomy, hormones, movement and the environment—interact in elite players' daily football experience.
Nottingham Trent University published the earlier surveillance research. Cowie said its anonymized data could identify overall injury trends but could not investigate individual players and injuries. She had previously described a planned PhD with Imperial College and the women’s professional leagues to examine players' experiences, including the support they received or lacked.
The new study will invite players and staff to contribute their experiences alongside survey data. Researchers hope the findings will help shape future injury prevention, rehabilitation and player welfare strategies.
Jones remained Australia’s most recent Formula One world champion. His wife, Amanda Butler-Davis, said he died on 5 November following a short illness.
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