Athletics • Report

Contact

The Rise In Injuries Among Female Athletes

By Livi Sizer '28 in Winter 2026

Over the past several years, sports injuries among female athletes have increased, especially serious injuries such as ACL tears and concussions. While this trend is concerning, experts agree it is not due to female athletes being less capable or less prepared. Instead, the rise in injuries is a combination of increased participation, physical differences, training gaps, and a long history of research focusing primarily on male athletes.

One of the primary reasons injury numbers are increasing is that more girls and women are participating in sports than ever before. Since the passage of Title IX, participation in youth, high school, and college athletics has grown dramatically. According to Yale Medicine, millions more female athletes are competing today than in previous decades. With increased participation comes increased exposure to high-speed play, physical contact, and repetitive movement, which naturally lead to a higher total number of injuries being recorded.

However, participation alone does not explain why female athletes experience certain injuries at higher rates. Research consistently shows that female athletes are much more likely to suffer ACL injuries, particularly in sports such as soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Medical experts report that female athletes are between two and eight times more likely to tear their ACL than males playing the same sports. This increased risk is largely due to biomechanical and anatomical differences. Female athletes often exhibit different knee alignment and body mechanics, which can increase stress on the ACL during movements such as cutting, pivoting, and landing from jumps. Studies have also shown differences in muscle strength and neuromuscular control, meaning female athletes may absorb force differently when changing direction at high speeds.

Concussions are another injury on the rise among female athletes. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that girls experience concussions more frequently than boys and often report more severe symptoms. Experts suggest this may be related to differences in neck strength and impact mechanics, which can affect how force is transferred to the head during collisions.

Training and prevention also play a major role. For decades, most sports training programs and injury prevention strategies were developed using male athletes as the standard. According to a review published in Sports Medicine, this has left female athletes without training programs designed around their needs. While research shows that targeted strength and neuromuscular training can significantly reduce injury risk, especially for ACL injuries, these programs are not consistently implemented in youth and school sports.

The rise in sports injuries among female athletes should not discourage participation. Instead, it highlights the need for better injury prevention, strength training, and research that includes female athletes. Many programs such as UC Berkeley and the National Women's Soccer League are starting medical research programs to help begin to close the gap. As awareness grows and schools adopt evidence-based prevention programs, experts believe injury rates can decrease while opportunities for female athletes continue to expand. With the right support, female athletes can continue to compete safely, confidently, and successfully.