New Study Targets ACL Injuries in Women’s Football
A new research project will investigate anterior cruciate ligament injuries in women’s football, following a rise in high-profile players suffering ruptured ACLs in recent years.
The Football Association and the Women’s Super League (WSL) have announced the study, which aims to better understand the reasons behind these injuries and how to reduce their occurrence.
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Notable players like Sam Kerr, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Leah Williamson have all experienced ACL ruptures recently.
Previous studies have indicated that female players may face a higher risk of such injuries compared to their male counterparts.
The project is a collaboration with Imperial College London and knee surgeon Simon Ball. The FA sponsors the PhD research conducted by Hanna Lehtovirta at Imperial College.
Beth Mead has also ruptured her ACL in the past (Getty)
The study will gather scientific data alongside the experiences of players and staff within the professional realm, with all clubs in the WSL and WSL2 invited to participate.
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Researchers will analyze data comparing players who have suffered ACL injuries to those who have not, and they will conduct interviews with players as part of the examination.
The ACL, one of four primary ligaments in the knee joint, is crucial for stability, and its rupture is viewed as one of the most serious injuries in football, with recovery typically taking at least 6 to 9 months before a player can return to action.
Many prominent female players have missed significant tournaments due to this injury.
Williamson, who captained England to victory in the Euros in 2022 and 2025, was unable to participate in the 2023 World Cup after suffering an ACL rupture shortly before the tournament. The Lionesses ultimately reached the final in Australia without her, where they lost to Spain.
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Putellas also navigated a comeback from a similar injury, demonstrating her resilience by winning the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time last week. She previously won the prestigious award in 2021 and 2022 during her tenure at Barcelona before transferring to London City Lionesses in the WSL earlier this year.
