Is it More than Biology?

When speaking about the prevalence of ACL injuries in women and girls are we ignoring important psycho-social factors?

ACL Injuries in Women and Girls

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries are more common in women and girls compared to men. This heightened risk is attributed to various factors such as anatomical differences, hormonal fluctuations, and neuromuscular imbalances. Aspects that may be creating these disparities are barriers young female athletes experience for athletic development:

• Unequal treatment in sports programs.

• Fewer opportunities for competitive training.

• Inadequate facilities and coaching support.

• Insufficient focus on specialized training for female athletes.

• Lack of awareness about ACL injury risks in women and girls.

By understanding, and experiencing first hand the whole biopsychosocial picture that affects girls in sports f3 Academy hopes to combat these barriers and keep girls playing the beautiful game.

Research

*Please note the first article discusses Aussie Rules Football