Johannesburg - More women and girls are participating in sports than ever before, which benefits both their physical and mental health. However, this has also led to a rise in orthopaedic injuries among women.
Experts are now warning that female athletes are two to eight times more likely than men to tear an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which, in many instances, impacts and shortens their professional playing career.
And during a woman's menstrual cycle, there are hormonal fluctuations, which can impact ligament and tendon laxity, muscle strength and coordination.
Rene Schickerling, who heads up Pharma Dynamics’ women’s healthcare division, added that hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, regulate hormone levels in a woman's body, which may reduce the risk of ACL injuries.
“During a woman's menstrual cycle, there are hormonal fluctuations, primarily involving oestrogen and progesterone,” she said. “These hormones can impact ligament and tendon laxity, muscle strength and coordination.”
Meanwhile, some studies have suggested that women are most susceptible to injury during the ovulatory phase, while others report the luteal phase (after ovulation), when progesterone levels are higher, to be associated with an increased injury risk due to potential effects on neuromuscular control and ligament laxity.
Schickerling also pointed out that professional female athletes are more prone than men to suffer common sports-related injuries that, in many instances, impact and shorten their playing career.
“Female athletes are two to eight times more likely than men to tear an ACL, which is usually the result of a twisting of the leg while applying downward pressure. So too, ankle sprains, and stress fractures are more common in female athletes.”
Schickerling explained that since 2021, at least 87 players from eight of the world’s top women’s football leagues have torn their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs).
This includes football stars like the USA’s Catarina Macario, Dutch forward Vivianne Miedema and England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, all having all fallen victim to ACL injuries, which take 10 months or longer to heal.
Meanwhile, acclaimed tennis player Serena Williams has also faced various injuries throughout her career, including knee and ankle issues.
“There is currently no consensus as to why ACL injuries are so prevalent in women. However, experts suggest it could be due to differences in anatomy, bio-mechanics, neuromuscular control, training and conditioning, including hormones.”
“Some studies have suggested that ACL laxity changes throughout the menstrual cycle and eliminating the changes in estrogen using oral contraceptives reduces the risk of ACL rupture,” Schickerling said.
She also believes that hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, regulate hormone levels in a woman's body, including oestrogen and progesterone.
“These hormones can influence ligament and tendon laxity, which might affect injury risk.”
She added that oestrogen, in particular, is believed to play a role in maintaining ligament and tendon integrity and has shown a potential protective effect.
“However, the relationship between hormonal changes and injury risk is complex and can be influenced by various factors, including individual variability, type of sport, training intensity, and more,” Schickerling said.
“It's also equally important to note that every woman's experience with her menstrual cycle is unique. The impact of hormonal contraceptives can vary among individuals due to differences in hormonal response, genetics and other factors. Therefore, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution.”
Schickerling added that if a female athlete is considering using hormonal contraceptives for potential ACL injury prevention, it is crucial that they consult with a medical professional, such as a gynaecologist or sports medicine specialist, first.
“They will be able to provide personalised advice based on the athlete's medical history, current health and athletic goals.”
Schickerling also believes that the field of sports medicine is continually evolving, and research on the relationship between hormonal contraceptives and ACL injuries is ongoing. “New insights and recommendations may emerge as more studies are conducted, and while hormonal contraceptives might have a role to play, athletes should focus on a comprehensive injury prevention strategy.”
“This includes proper strength and conditioning training, neuromuscular control exercises and technique refinement to reduce ACL and other injury risk,” she said.
Schickerling added that it is important to keep in mind that injury risk is influenced by various factors.
“Hormones are just one piece of the puzzle,” she said.