University in the UK to explore potential connection between menstrual cycles and knee injuries in athletes
Title: Delving into Hormonal Fluctuations: Uncovering Menstrual Cycle Influences on ACL Injuries in Women's Soccer
Get ready, soccer fans! A jaw-dropping study, funded by none other than FIFA, is about to shake things up at Kingston University. This research aims to shed light on whether those pesky hormonal shifts during menstrual cycles could be the culprit behind the alarming increase in career- jeopardizing ACL injuries in women's soccer.
You've probably heard about the ladies from Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea—names like Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr (who hails from the land down under)—all falling victim to ACL injuries. Don't worry, Sam's been off the pitch for a good 15 months due to a ruptured ACL.
Stepping up to lead this groundbreaking research is none other than PhD student Blake Rivers and an entourage of sports science experts. The investigation will last a whole year and involve some in-depth analysis of blood samples from both elite and grassroots soccer players. Their focus? Tracking hormone concentrations throughout each player's menstrual cycle.
As Senior Lecturer in Sport Biomechanics, Simon Augustus, put it, "We're here to explore whether athletes may be more susceptible to injuries due to the functional changes in their anatomy and physiology during the menstrual cycle."
"We're aware that hormones fluctuate during different phases of the cycle," he continued, "but we haven't quite figured out how much of an impact they might have on the injury risk yet."
So what exactly are they looking for? They aim to pinpoint specific cycle phases that could potentially see increased injury risk, allowing for personalized training adjustments.
Intriguing, isn't it? The researchers are homing in on estrogen and progesterone levels—hormones linked to increased ligament laxity and slower neuromuscular reaction times—factors known to potentially boost injury risk.
Want to know more? The study includes:- Participants: Elite and grassroots footballers from teams like Chelsea and Fulham.- Methodology: Regular blood tests to track hormone concentrations, coupled with physical performance assessments throughout menstrual cycles.- Objective: Identifying cycle phases where injury risk could peak to enable personalized training adjustments.
Let's hope this research brings us one step closer to reducing ACL injuries in women's soccer and keeping our favorite players out of the injury list!
- Blake Rivers, a PhD student at Kingston University, is spearheading a study, funded by FIFA, to examine if hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles could be contributing factors to the rise in career-threatening ACL injuries in women's soccer.
- In this study, sports science experts will analyze blood samples from both elite and grassroots soccer players, focusing on tracking hormone concentrations throughout each player's menstrual cycle.
- The research aims to pinpoint specific cycle phases that could potentially see increased injury risk, thus allowing for personalized training adjustments.
- The researchers are investigating estrogen and progesterone levels, hormones linked to increased ligament laxity and slower neuromuscular reaction times, factors known to potentially boost injury risk.
- The study includes participants from teams like Chelsea and Fulham, with regular blood tests to track hormone concentrations and physical performance assessments throughout menstrual cycles.
- The ultimate objective is to identify cycle phases where injury risk could peak, which could lead to a significant reduction in ACL injuries in women's soccer, keeping beloved athletes like Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr off the injury list.
