Research is on ‘an upward curve’ and the next five years could be vital in trying to limit cruciate ruptures
P
layers who compete in the top two levels of German women’s football are four times more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than their male counterparts, according to the German Football Association (DFB).
The governing body has funded a central injury and illness registry in women’s football for three years. So far in the Frauen Bundesliga, Germany’s top flight, there have been a reported seven ACL injuries 10 games into the current campaign. In the men’s Bundesliga, meanwhile, there have been three such injuries.
Among those to have suffered the injury is the Bayern Munich midfielder Lena Oberdorf. The Germany international recovered from an ACL injury to start this season and played six matches before rupturing the same ligament in the same knee. The DFB has implemented several measures to try to limit the amount of ACL injuries sustained by male and female players, including “training formats for medical staff and content on injury prevention in coach education” and “a scientifically supervised test battery with individual training recommendations”.
