Why do female footballers get more ACL injuries?

The women’s football European Championship kicks off next week in Switzerland. The Euros have thrust a recurring issue into the spotlight: ACL injuries. Female footballers suffer tears to their anterior cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL, more frequently than male footballers. Kesewaa Browne from the What in the World team explains some of the theories on why injury rates are so high.

Research has lagged behind for years, but with the sport becoming more high-profile, focus has shifted to what can be done to prevent these types of injuries: from the shape of the football boot to the frequency of international breaks.

We speak to Manchester United player Gabby George who has suffered two ACL injuries on the pitch. She tells us about the emotional impact of being forced to watch from the bench rather than playing. And James Brouner from Kingston University in the UK, tells us what research has found so far on the risk factors for female footballers.

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Presenter: William Lee-Adams

Producers: Kesewaa Browne, Josh Jenkins and Emilia Jansson

Editor: Julia Ross-Roy