Could the notch' be key to understanding ACL injuries in women's football?

"Players who compete in the top two levels of German women's football are four times more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than their male counterparts, according to the German Football Association (DFB). The governing body has funded a central injury and illness registry in women's football for three years. So far in the Frauen Bundesliga, Germany's top flight, there have been a reported seven ACL injuries 10 games into the current campaign."

"Among those to have suffered the injury is the Bayern Munich midfielder Lena Oberdorf. The Germany international recovered from an ACL injury to start this season and played six matches before rupturing the same ligament in the same knee. The DFB has implemented several measures to try to limit the amount of ACL injuries sustained by male and female players, including training formats for medical staff and content on injury prevention in coach education and a scientifically supervised test battery with individual training recommendations."

"ACL injuries are prevalent across the women's game with a reported seven players enduring one in England's Women's Super League already this season. Among them is Michelle Agyemang, who ruptured an ACL during England's 3-0 friendly win over Australia last month. And according to ACL Women Football Club, a social media account that collates information on the injuries in the sport via research and club announcements, France's Premiere Ligue has recorded six ACL issues and Italy's Serie A Femminile two so far this season."

Players in the top two levels of German women's football face a fourfold higher risk of ACL rupture than male counterparts. The German Football Association funded a central injury and illness registry in women's football for three years and reported seven ACL injuries in the Frauen Bundesliga ten games into the campaign compared with three in the men's Bundesliga. Bayern midfielder Lena Oberdorf suffered a repeat ACL rupture after returning from a prior injury. The DFB introduced training formats for medical staff, injury-prevention content in coach education, and a scientifically supervised test battery with individual training recommendations. ACL cases are also reported across England, France, and Italy, and FIFA is funding research into hormonal influences.

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