The front of Portland thorn, Sophia Smithsuffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) strain, the club said Wednesday, making him the latest casualty amid a spate of knee injuries among professional soccer players.
Member of the women’s national team USAThe 23-year-old suffered a right knee injury one game before halftime in Portland’s 1-1 draw against the Washington Spirit on Sunday.
“Smith’s condition is being monitored weekly and he will undergo rehabilitation with the Thorns FC sports medicine staff,” the team said of the 2022 NWSL MVP. Portland leads the standings with five weeks remaining in the regular season. With 11 goals, Smith currently leads the race for the Golden Boot.
The prevalence of knee injuries in women’s soccer is an area of growing concern, with several players forced to miss this year’s Women’s World Cup after tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Runners-up England are without captains Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby, while the line-ups of Canada, France, the Netherlands and the United States are also affected.
Studies suggest that women are two to eight times more likely to experience ACL injuries compared to men in the same sport and 25% more likely to relapse after recovery.
Theories as to why women are more likely to suffer ACL injuries range from women playing in boots designed for men to anatomical differences in female players to hormonal changes during the season. of menstrual cycles. Former Australian striker Sarah Walsh is among those calling for more investment in research to find ways to reduce injuries.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
