EWJ June 61 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 48
therefore influence the biomechanics of movements
such as landing from jumps or sudden directional
changes — common scenarios for ACL injuries
to intervene and prevent them from taking place by
utilising strength training or tweaking technique”.
Who has a duty of care?
The players have spoken and medical experts are
clear — football is depriving female players of fair and
equal treatment. Our infrastructure — originally designed and built to support men — is failing the
women's game. This problem has been exacerbated
by the accelerated growth of women's football.
In May 2024, research from University College
London, University of Bath and St Mary's University
suggested that players are more likely to get injured at
certain points during their menstrual cycle. The peerreviewed study found that 26 of the players monitored
were six times more likely to pick up a muscle injury
in the days leading up to their period, compared to
when they were on their period.
Sports medicine specialist and former Chelsea club
doctor Eva Carneiro is one of few females to have held
a senior medical position at a Premier League club.
She believes that the lack of funding and gaps in
female-specific research and knowledge is negatively
impacting female athletes.
It seems that football’s governing bodies are also taking notice of the potential link between hormonal fluctuations and ACL injuries, with FIFA recently
announcing its plans to fund a groundbreaking yearlong study at Kingston University London. This will
involve tracking hormone levels in blood samples
from both elite and grassroots players throughout
their menstrual cycles. The study aims correlate these
hormonal phases with physical performance data and
typical ACL injury scenarios, such as rapid directional
changes and landing after heading the ball.
She told Sky Sports: “Gender is still an issue in football.
You've got limited funding in the women's game and you don't
have very experienced medical teams.”
Clubs and governing bodies owe a duty of care to all
their athletes. At the very least, this includes employing physiotherapists and medical professionals with
specific training and experience with the female
anatomy. However, the talent pool for such professionals is limited, with coaches and physiotherapists
working predominantly with men. This must change
to ensure that our female players receive adequate
care and support. From a legal perspective, female
footballers are employees and have the right to receive
the same standard of care as males.
Simon Augustus, a senior lecturer in sport
biomechanics at Kingston University, commented on
the potential impact that this research could have to
women’s football: "We know some injuries are unavoidable, but we're attempting to help those individuals who injure their ACL outside of impact actions.
Those are the ones where we might have more chance
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DM MA BM FRCS
Medical Expert Witness - Vascular Surgeon - Medical Editor
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Screening report - a preliminary assessment of the likelihood of successful litigation. (Non-CPR35 compliant).
Report addressing issues of Breach of Duty and Causation (CPR35 compliant)
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EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
46
JUNE 2025
