Women’s football is reaching its limits. The fast-growing sport is currently plagued by a wave of ACL injuries. Much-needed gender-specific research attempts to counter the problem with its own revolution. From bras to KDB shoes: sports doctor Elke Van den Steen gives us an insight into the counter-offensive.
The image of Hannah Eurlings, who was taken away last weekend with a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the Red Flames’ match against the Dutch, is no longer unique.
Cruciate ligament injuries are currently sweeping women’s football.
This was also confirmed by surgeon and team doctor at Club Brugge, Thomas Tampere, in our Sporza Daily podcast. Did you know, for example, that 5 of the 20 nominees for the Golden Ball for women were out at the time with a cruciate ligament injury?
The solution according to Tampere: “More gender-specific research is needed to develop prevention protocols.”
Eurlings did her lap of honor with a wrapped knee.
That research does exist, but is often still in its infancy.
“Professionalization in women’s football has only really emerged in recent years, so research in that domain does not yet have a significant breeding ground,” says Elke Van den Steen, medical coordinator at the Red Flames.
The textbook example of such a recent study is the UEFA Champions League Study, which has also been conducted in women’s football for two years.
“All training minutes and additional injuries are recorded there day in, day out, so that a report can be drawn up afterwards,” Van den Steen explains. “For example, this has been done for men for 20 years.”
Counter
Women’s football currently seems to be mainly a victim of its own recent success. For example, women’s football has evolved very quickly in recent years.
“When football was not yet professional, the players often had to combine their sport with another job, which is still very often the case in Belgium. There are few professional players here anymore.”
“For example, you come to training more tired and you have fewer training sessions to build up your resistance. In addition, players often start playing football at a later age and the framework is still not always as professional as for men.”
“In short: properties that are needed to participate in top sports are often less well developed. This promotes injuries, including cruciate ligament injuries.”
Characteristics needed to participate in top sports are often less well developed.
Van den Steen is already trying to counter all these new needs as head of the Women’s Health Expert Panel of UEFA.
“We gather specialists there to approach various specific problems in women’s football. We look at the factors that influence this and try to respond to them.”
“On the other hand, we also try to bring the knowledge that exists to the players and coaches. There are indeed prevention programs that have already proven that they can reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury. But these are not sufficiently known or are being overused. little used.”
Women’s feet and sports bras
So there is indeed an overtaking maneuver underway. Especially in terms of materials.
“For example, look at the women’s football boots. Until recently, they were just men’s models. Two months ago, Nike released the first model tailor-made for women.”
“And a good thing too. The woman’s foot is often narrower at the back and wider at the front. The shape of men is more rectangular. That makes a big difference in the way they move and therefore also the effect on the knee/cruciate ligament. “
Fun fact: Kevin De Bruyne also wears the model for women.
Kevin De Bruyne with the new “women’s shoe” from Nike.
And that’s not all. “For example, breasts also play an important role in this pathology,” Van den Steen explains.
“If the breasts are not properly supported, that movement can weaken your core stability, which increases the risk of movement patterns that are dangerous for a cruciate ligament injury.”
“A good sports bra is therefore essential. Research is also being done into this – under the name breast health.”
The custom-made sports bras were already the secret weapon of the English national team at the 2022 European Championship.
There seems to be a good chance that we will soon see all women walking around with KDB shoes.
