While numerous individuals and groups are – quite rightly - asking why and calling for action, very little seems to be being done or achieved at this stage.

 

Here at PODO, through our experience of regularly working with women’s football players, we have a pretty good idea what a large part of the problem is and are taking action in the form of PODO – FROM THE GROUND UP.

 

The campaign is looking very closely at women’s football boots and exploring fitting customised insoles for female players that suit female feet. The aim is not only to understand the role footwear plays in ACL injuries but also to tackle the epidemic, as the campaign name suggests, from the ground (or the feet) up.

 

THE BIOMECHANICAL CHALLENGES

 

The answer is not a one-size-fits all, as there are multiple factors that contribute to the reasons a woman might suffer an ACL injury. This makes the problem more complex.

 

If we talk about the human body in terms of factors, some of those factors are structural, while others are postural. Those are the two factors we aim to address during the course of our campaign. Other factors, such as the environment, and the player’s biology will be acknowledged and allowed for, as far as possible, but won’t be modified specifically using our approach.

 

For example, factors, such as the width of the pelvis (women generally have wider pelvises than men – perfect for childbirth, less efficient for movement), or bowleggedness would require a more radical approach in order to be modified. However, we intend to adapt and work around those factors, assessing each of them to integrate the uniqueness of a player into their unique treatment plan.

 

Conversely, factors such as a foot/ankle over-pronating, a knee rolling inwards or being pushed outward or pelvic tilting – all of which are among the most common sources of injuries - will be addressed, from the ground up, by applying the rules of biomechanics, and crafting a pair of asymmetrical orthotics. 

 

How bones affect the performance of muscles

 

In short, the bones tell the muscles what to do. That means that any misalignment that affects either a bone or a joint, will create a muscle imbalance with one (group of) muscle(s) overworking and its opposite (group of) muscle(s) underworking. 

 

This is why a player’s alignment, balance, and posture must be optimised at every level of her body, and in any body plan. By doing so, the risk of muscle damage is reduced.

 

Since your two feet are different, and you do have a dominant leg, there is a naturally-occurring misalignment – or asymmetry. If you put your asymmetrical form into a pair of symmetrical football boots, it will inevitably put strain on your muscles, increasing your risk of injury.

Therefore, it makes sense to match your asymmetry, in your symmetrical pair of football boots, with an asymmetrical pair of orthotics.

These are not the orthotics that you can buy off-the-shelf, they must be custom made. PODO believes that this should become a preventive measure for every woman playing football.

 

The effect of hormones

 

Every month, women have to deal with significant hormonal fluctuations. Ups and downs in the production of sex hormones (among others) affect the structure and elasticity of the tissue that is supposed to both secure a joint and safely control its range of motion. And there appears to be a general consensus that oestrogen, when elevated, can affect a joint’s stability, interfering with the collagen in the joint, making it loose.

 

At the same time, we can also all agree that football is a physically demanding sport, and that any vulnerability will add an unnecessary challenge for the player who already has to deal with a sport that is mainly played on the forefoot, with knee bent, and with every muscle surrounding the knee working hard. 

 

The Anterior Cruciate ligament (ACL) is the main knee stabilising ligament and will be at even greater risk of injuries when both the biology and the biomechanics of the player are out of balance.

 

Women’s Football Insoles

 

Good muscle strength can be aided by good conditioning and stretching sessions, for example, and this can help in creating magic on the field. But don’t forget that muscles are still susceptible to pain, fatigue and injuries. Not only that, while women on average are shorter in stature than men, but the length of the football pitch is also the same and they still play for 90 minutes every match. 

 

This is where a properly designed pair of football boots, with a properly moulded pair of orthotics come in. Both must be specifically fitted to each woman’s feet and to the requirements for playing football. Only then can the player feel secure, physically, at a foot level and mentally, thus increasing her confidence and trust in her body. And that is how PODO intends to contribute to tackling knee injuries in women’s football - with the PODO Women’s Football Insoles.

 

After trying the new insoles, Lucy Spours, Midfielder on the Clapton CFC Women’s First team, and physiotherapist by background, said:

“I really enjoyed wearing my insoles for our first training session back, my feet felt more secure, and I felt like my legs were able to do what I told them!”