Same But Different: 'We can't change someone's anatomy but we can change the support systems in place for them'

"While it has been proven that women sustain the likes of ACLs and concussions at a greater rate than men, the research has not been done to conclusively say that is because of their gender. Injuries are a part of sport, a fact of life for every athlete - male or female. They are an occupational hazard. Yet, often the tone and nature of the discussion around injured athletes can be very different, depending on their gender."

"Yet, often the tone and nature of the discussion around injured athletes can be very different, depending on their gender. When male athletes are injured, the narrative is typically centred around how long they will be out of action. For women, it's a very different story, because then it's about the prevalence of that particular injury in comparison to the men's equivalent, and the anatomical differences that made the injury more likely in the first place."

Injuries are an inherent occupational hazard for athletes of both sexes. Women sustain ACL tears and concussions at higher rates than men, but research has not conclusively established gender as the causal factor. Public narratives about injuries differ by sex. Coverage of male athlete injuries often focuses on expected recovery time and return to play. Coverage of female athlete injuries often emphasizes prevalence compared with male equivalents and cites anatomical differences as explanations. The contrast in framing can shape perceptions of risk and may influence research priorities and resource allocation.

Read at Independent