Injuries in women's football world
In 2023, 23 top women footballers sustained ACL injuries, compared to only 47 in the years 2019 to 2022. Why are serious injury risks increasing? How can we effectively prevent these injuries? Let's analyze the statistics and discover the solutions.
1. Stats of worst injuries in the women's football world 2023
A 2024 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine demonstrates that 47 ACL( anterior cruciate ligament ) injuries has been recorded during 2018 - 2022 among 15 UEFA women’s elite clubs, while the number skyrocketed to 23 in the past 2023 according to Samantha and Skysports. Still, we figured out the injury situation for those 15 clubs in 2023, and if we include the MCL (medial collateral ligament), the number could double. Moreover , more than 190 injuries are reported in the 2022-2023 season Women's Super League , we illustrated a currently injured players table below.
A staggering 73% of lionesses have experienced injuries on multiple occasions, with an average recovery period of 11.9 days. Notably, injuries as severe as ACL and MCL tears have been observed, alongside more common issues affecting the hamstrings (11.9%), quadriceps (11.1%), ankles (17%), and knees (10%). These statistics underscore the prevalence of injuries among football girls and emphasize the need for preventive measures.
2. The worst injury in football
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears are notably common among female footballers; star players such as Leah, Kerr, Mead, and several others have been forced to stay off the pitch for extended periods, often exceeding six months. What’s worse, athletes experienced such injuries may see a significant reduction in ligament elasticity even after recovering to full health. This not only implies a higher likelihood of recurrence of the same injury but also results in a considerable decrease in their explosive speed and agility. Besides, the paths to recovery are arduous and protracted, you can see from Neymar’s agonizing screams.
3. How to protect yourself from injuries
- Proper Warm-up and Stretching : We have introduced you some easy warming up ways to prevent injuries , remember, the core of warm-up is making yourself feel warm, which helps your ligament and joints to bear the sudden force and pressure in an intense game.
- Pick proper gear : You need proper shoes, socks and football kits for different situations, because uneven terrain, unsuitable cleats, socks lacking traction, and unbearable cold can subtly increase the likelihood of injuries.
- Strength Training : Building strength, especially in the lower body and core, can help prevent injuries. Strengthening muscles around the knee, such as quadriceps and hamstrings, can improve the strength of your muscles and the elasticity of ligament, Making them strong enough to handle the tension.
- Diving when you are tackled or challenged : we are not teaching you to gain an unfair advantage, but dive in a proper, smart way can help you to swiftly alter body position, avoiding excessive twisting or exposure to unnatural forces during the tackle. This is not a joke, this is what I learnt from my personal experience, just don’t dive for cheating.
