Girl's Sports Injuries More Common

Women's soccer is becoming increasingly popular around the world, but special training may be required to cut the relatively high levels of injury in female soccer, according to research presented to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon's last month. The researchers revealed women soccer players are 2 to 8 times more likely to suffer from knee injuries, specifically to the anterior cruciate ligament, than their male counterparts.

Dr Leth Griffin of the University of Georgia claims the increased level of injuries is due to the way women move while playing sport. "Girls run and pivot in a stiff-legged, upright posture. Boy's, on the other hand, have knees bent and play low to the ground".

Dr Griffin has been working alongside Dr Bert Mendelbaum of the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Research foundation in California to develop a training program designed to strengthen women's muscles and correct the way they run, jump and turn.

The two researchers reported an 88% reduction in ACL tear injuries amongst a group of over 1,000 female players who underwent the training program.

Tuesday, 12 March 2002