Why Are ACL Injuries So Prevalent in Women’s Football?
In the world of women’s professional football, one injury continues to make headlines and heartbreaks: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
In fact, over 20 professional players were ruled out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup due to ACL related injuries and surgeries. Even more striking, female footballers are estimated to be five times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than their male counterparts.
As specialists in exercise, recovery, and performance and having supported several world class female players through their injury rehab we want to explore why ACL injuries are so common in women’s football, the wider impact, and how collagen supplementation, particularly U Perform’s Active Collagen, could support prevention and recovery.
The Facts: Why Are ACL Injuries So Common in Women?
ACL injuries often occur in sports that demand quick changes in direction, sudden stops, and high impact landings like football, rugby, basketball, and volleyball. But when it comes to female athletes, several unique factors increase the risk.
1. Anatomical & Biomechanical Differences
Women tend to have wider hips than men, which increases the angle between the thigh and the knee. This can place additional stress on the ACL. On top of that, research suggests that women typically land with straighter knees, reducing shock absorption and increasing ligament strain.
However, while these differences are well documented, there’s still no definitive proof that they’re the primary cause of injury.
2. Hormonal Influences
Hormones particularly oestrogen can affect ligament laxity and joint stability. During certain phases of the menstrual cycle, increased oestrogen may make ligaments more prone to injury. While this theory continues to gain interest, conclusive research is still limited.
3. Gender Disparities in Training & Support
A 2021 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine highlights external factors like access to elite level coaching, sports science, facilities, and rehab resources. Compared to men, female players often have lower training ages less time spent in structured, progressive conditioning leaving them more vulnerable to injury.
4. Workload & Recovery
As the women’s game grows rapidly, so does the number of fixtures and the intensity of competition. Unfortunately, recovery strategies haven’t always kept pace. Overuse, fatigue, and under recovery all play a significant role in injury risk.
The Impact of ACL Injuries
ACL injuries are career defining. Recovery often involves surgery, months of physiotherapy, and a huge mental toll. For many players, this means time away from the pitch, missed opportunities, and in some cases, career setbacks. Worse still, the risk of re injury remains high if recovery isn’t carefully managed and supported.
What Can Be Done? Prevention Is Possible
Prevention is a critical part of the conversation. Evidence shows that structured strength and conditioning programmes, with a focus on lower body strength, core stability, balance, and neuromuscular training, can reduce ACL injury risk by up to 50%. One study even showed a 67% reduction in non contact ACL injuries with the right exercise interventions.
But there’s more that athletes can do to support their bodies from the inside out starting with collagen supplementation.
Collagen Supplements & Injury Prevention
This is where U Perform comes in. Collagen is a key structural protein found in tendons, ligaments, muscles, skin, and joints. As we age and under physical stress our body’s ability to produce collagen declines. This makes supplementation vital, especially for athletes putting their bodies through intense activity and recovery.
Our Active Collagen, Active Whey & Collagen, and Active Sport Collagen products are designed to kickstart collagen production in target tissues with clinically proven Bioactive Collagen Peptides® helping support recovery, resilience, and long term joint and ligament health.
The Science Behind Active Collagen
Our signature product, Active Collagen, is powered by Bioactive Collagen Peptides® — with a focus on TENDOFORTE®, a clinically researched ingredient that supports the health and function of ligaments and tendons.
TENDOFORTE® is combined with essential vitamins and minerals in a convenient, great-tasting liquid gel to help strengthen connective tissues and support recovery after physical activity.
One study from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) followed 20 runners with chronic Achilles tendinopathy who had not responded to traditional treatments. After 3 months of supplementing with 5g of TENDOFORTE® daily, 12 of the participants successfully returned to training.
Active Collagen also contains VERISOL®, another Bioactive Collagen Peptide® that supports skin and joint health — making this a comprehensive solution for recovery, resilience, and long-term performance.
