Descriptive study of cruciate ligament injuries in female soccer

Research on the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury shows a prevalence of two to eight times higher in women soccer players than in men. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and characteristics of the anterior cruciate ligament injury in female soccer players of the Spanish first and second division and to analyze the relationship between the phases of the menstrual cycle and the ACL injury. A total of 94 anterior cruciate ligament injuries occurred to 71 players in the last 10 seasons were analyzed. The mean age of the study participants was 21.49 years (4.42). The most common injury mechanism was non-contact and more injuries occurred during matches than in training. The statistical analysis showed a significant association between the time of injury, i.e. whether it was in training or competition, and whether or not there was contact. Likewise, a significant association was found between the type of field where the injury occurred and the type of boot heel with which the injury occurred. Finally, in relation to the phase of the menstrual cycle, it was observed that the majority of the injuries occurred during the phase of the menstrual cycle that more lesions occurred was in the luteal phase (25 injuries) and menstruation (19 injuries). The results obtained reflect the high incidence of this in women's football and the need to establish an to reduce it.