The high number of injuries in female sports is not just a coincidence—it results from multiple factors. Many of these are rooted in biology and the structural differences between males and females. Other contributing factors include disparities in training programs, as well as the equipment and gear used in women’s sports. Finally, societal factors also play a significant role in understanding why female athletes are more prone to injuries.
As boys and girls mature, it becomes increasingly clear that their biological differences impact athletic performance and injury risk. Women’s bodies are structurally different from men’s, and some of these differences make female athletes more susceptible to certain injuries. According to Yale Medicine, the female pelvis is wider than the male pelvis. This structural difference alters the alignment of the thigh bone, tibia and femur, placing additional stress on certain joints, particularly the knees. As a result, many female athletes experience knee pain. In fact, female athletes are two to eight times more likely than their male counterparts to tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This increased risk is partly due to hormonal fluctuations, which can affect ligament laxity and make injuries more likely. Many female athletes are unaware that during their menstrual cycle, these hormonal changes peak, further increasing the risk of injury.
After tearing her ACL in 2015, soccer star Megan Rapinoe reflected on the importance of injury prevention, stating, “I’ve had to learn how to listen to my body over the years and figure out how it all works together. I’m not invincible, so focusing on training my whole body and injury prevention has been extremely important.”
While women must contend with biological factors that make them more vulnerable to certain injuries, this does not make them weaker than men. Rather than treating female athletes as “ticking time bombs” destined to tear their ACLs, we should focus on making sports safer for them. This starts with addressing the shortcomings in training programs and ensuring that coaches are aware of the risks their athletes face.
Training programs across all sports are often based on research conducted on male athletes, with little consideration for female physiology. One of the most significant issues is the lack of research on female athletes. Strength training—integral at all levels, from high school to professional sports—often overlooks joint stabilization and neuromuscular training, which are essential for injury prevention in women. Unlike men, female athletes require targeted training in these areas to reduce the risk of ACL injuries. If coaches and trainers prioritized joint stabilization and neuromuscular development, it could significantly improve the safety and longevity of female athletes’ careers.
The lack of research on female athletes extends beyond training programs, to sports equipment as well. Protective gear for women such as helmets, pads and cleats are often simply downsized from men’s versions, rather than designed to meet women’s specific needs. For example, most soccer cleats are modeled after the structure of the male foot, which can cause extreme discomfort for female players and contribute to foot-related injuries. The absence of research and development for female-specific gear leaves women athletes at a disadvantage, increasing their risk of injury.
Female athletes are being failed on multiple levels. Without a proper understanding of their unique injury risks, many suffer career-ending injuries that could have been prevented. The solution starts at the grassroots level—with high school athletes. If society continues to neglect female athletes, it becomes even more important to equip them with knowledge and resources to advocate for themselves. Coaches and players must push for better education on injury prevention and demand more research tailored to women’s needs. Only then can we begin to close the gap between male and female athletes and create a safer environment for women in sports.
