Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Soccer: A Gender-based Approach to Pain Assessment and Clinical Applications from the Perspective of Anxiety Disorder and Kinesiophobia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: W omen's soccer has gained increasing global attention in recent years, being officially played in over 100 countries with an estimated 30 million players worldwide.The sport has experienced rapid growth globally, with more women actively participating.[1] However, this surge in participation has also led to a higher incidence of sports-related injuries among female players, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.[2] ACL injuries are notably more common in female athletes, and understanding the underlying causes is essential for developing both preventive and therapeutic strategies.[3] Research on injury epidemiology in female soccer players indicates that 51-83% of injuries result from physical contact with opponents, whereas 19-39% are due to fouls.Studies on injuries reveal that 48-70% of female soccer players experience at least one injury per season, with injury rates affected by factors such as age and competition level.[4] ACL injuries can have a detrimental impact on female players' careers, often requiring prolonged rehabilitation.Consequently, gender-based approaches to assessing and treating these injuries are essential.[5,6] In recent years, the frequency of sports injuries has been extensively investigated in terms of risk factors and preventive measures.Players engaged in team sports are at a higher risk of injury because the games typically involve various movements and interactions with the ball, teammates, and opponents.Although the mechanism of injury is common among professional football players, it represents a heterogeneous group with different types of injuries and widespread terminology.Traditionally, it has been categorized as delayed onset muscle soreness, strains, and contusions.The initial step in injury prevention is the assessment of injury epidemiology and the elimination of injury risk.This review addresses the importance of a gender-based approach in the assessment of pain and clinical practices for anterior cruciate ligament injuries commonly seen in female soccer players.Specifically, the effects of psychological factors such as anxiety disorders and kinesiophobia (fear of movement) on anterior cruciate ligament injuries are examined.It highlights gender-based differences in anterior cruciate ligament injuries suffered by female soccer players and discusses how these differences should be taken into account in pain assessment and treatment processes.
Source: BAU Health and Innovation
Author: Gamze Yalçın
Institutions: Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul University
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409551267