A new study at Kingston University in London will help determine whether the menstrual cycle is a contributing factor to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s football.
Research shows that women are up to eight times more likely to injure their ACL than men.
The study
The study has been funded by football’s governing body FIFA. To test the link, researchers will analyse blood samples and physical performance markers for a mix of elite and grassroots players.
Kingston researcher Dr Simon Augustus said: “We want to examine whether athletes may be more predisposed to injuries because of the functional changes in terms of their anatomy and physiology during the menstrual cycle. We know hormones fluctuate during different phases of the cycle but we don’t yet know how much of an influence that may have on the risk of injury.”
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Player experience
Former U.S. captain and two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe recently said on her podcast: “I’ve had not one, two, but three ACL tears – all three have been on my period.”
ACL injuries can have a significant impact on a player’s career, given that the recovery time can take up to twelve months.
Matildas star Sam Kerr has still not played a match since injuring her ACL in January 2024. Kerr’s teammate Mary Fowler was recently sidelined by the same injury, marking another potentially costly absence for the Matildas.
