Injury prevention for women in sport
Women and girls need targeted training and strategies to reduce injury risk.
What does the research tell us?
Most research into sports injuries has been based on men and boys. Research into the types of injuries that affect women and girls as well as injury prevention strategies specific to women and girls is still evolving. But we now know women experience different injury patterns. This means prevention programs need to be designed with women and girls in mind.
What sorts of injuries are most common among women and girls and why?
Research into women’s football shows the most common injuries are concussion, ankle sprains and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
Differences in male and female bodies – anatomy, biomechanics, physiology and hormones – play a role. For example, women and girls generally have looser joints greater, and higher rates of ACL injuries just before or after their period.
What can prevent injury?
Targeted training, injuring prevention strategies and potentially also changes to some regulations can help prevent injury in women’s sport.
To ensure you can enjoy sport safely:
- use targeted warm-up, strength and stretching routines that match your sport and any common injuries
- follow safe training loads and avoid sudden increases in intensity
- work with your coach, physio or health professional to design an injury prevention plan that suits you and your sport.
- (for coaches and health professionals) involve participants in developing injury prevention programs to help them understand why it’s important to stick with it, leading to more tailored and effective injury prevention strategies and programs.
Why is this important?
Injury can be a big setback for anyone involved in any sport, at any level. It can affect your performance and confidence. Building tailored injury prevention exercises into regular training helps keep you healthy, safe, and able to enjoy sport.
The most effective strategies are based on what meet your needs, your sport and your most common movements. To develop your own injury prevention strategy, take a look at the 5 steps in How to design an injury prevention program - Human Kinetics Blog, opens in a new tab.
More resources
How to design an injury prevention program – Human Kinetics Blog, opens in a new tab