Report links boot design to ACL injuries in women’s football
A parliamentary committee in the UK has criticised sports footwear manufacturers for failing to take the needs of women footballers into full consideration in their boot designs.
The Women and Equalities Committee in the House of Commons, the lower house of the UK Parliament, has carried out a far-reaching examination of health barriers that exist for girls and women in sport. It published its latest report on this subject on March 5.
In the new report, committee members said they were surprised to hear evidence that, “despite the soaring popularity of women’s football and increasing rates of girls’ participation”, there are very few football boots designed specifically to meet the needs of girls and women.
Furthermore, the report acknowledged “the potential link” between a lack of consideration for women players in the design of football boots and “the disproportionate prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries in women’s football”. It said female footballers are between three and six times more likely to suffer an ACL knee injury than their male counterparts.
In addition, the report said there is evidence that football boots are causing broader problems for many female players. It quoted a June 2023 survey coordinated by the European Club Association of around 350 elite female footballers from around Europe. The survey found that 82% of these players experienced discomfort from their football boots.
Image shows US women’s national team forward Trinity Rodman at the presentation of the X Crazyfast boot from adidas.
Credit: adidas.
