Harnessing Hormonal Insights: How Runverve is Poised to Revolutionize ACL Injury Prevention for Female Athletes

Kavya s
Jun 4
2 min read

A groundbreaking study underway at Kingston University in London, funded by FIFA, is shining a spotlight on a long overlooked factor in sports injury prevention the menstrual cycle. The year-long research investigates how hormonal fluctuations across menstrual phases may influence the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female athletes. With high-profile ACL injuries sidelining elite footballers like Megan Rapinoe, Alexia Putellas, and Sam Kerr, the urgency for personalized training solutions has never been greater.

The Study: Decoding the Menstrual Cycle–ACL Connection

Led by PhD student Blake Rivers and supervised by experts Dr. Simon Augustus, Dr. James Brouner, and Dr. Michelle Richards, the study involves 20–25 footballers aged 18–35 from clubs including Chelsea and Fulham. Starting June 2025, participants undergo:

Regular blood tests to monitor key hormones like oestrogen and progesterone
Biomechanical assessments such as change-of-direction and landing tests during different menstrual phases

Research suggests elevated oestrogen and relaxin levels during certain phases can increase ligament laxity and reduce neuromuscular control, leading to heightened injury risk. This study seeks to correlate these hormonal markers with performance and injury vulnerability.

Implications for Female Athletes

The findings could lead to individualized training and injury prevention strategies tailored to an athlete's menstrual cycle. This approach respects the biological diversity among women, acknowledging the significant variability in hormonal profiles especially when factors like contraceptive use come into play.

The need for such solutions is pressing. High-profile ACL injuries among top female footballers Megan Rapinoe, Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr have amplified the call for deeper understanding. Notably, Megan Rapinoe has experienced multiple ACL tears that coincided with her menstrual period, underscoring the link this research aims to decode.

Runverve’s Vision: From Groundbreaking Research to Game-Changing Technology

At Runverve, we’re deeply committed to personalized, data-driven athletic coaching, and the insights emerging from Kingston University’s study present a compelling opportunity. While we are not directly involved in the study, our technology aligns perfectly with its findings and stands ready to apply them.

Runverve is actively exploring ways to integrate menstrual cycle tracking and hormonal data into our AI-driven coaching systems. This would enable us to:

Personalize injury prevention strategies
Adjust training intensity during high-risk hormonal phases
Empower female athletes to understand and work with their unique physiological rhythms

Runverve’s Technology Suite: Built for the Future of Training

AI-Powered Coaching Platform

Creates adaptive training plans that evolve with an athlete’s progress, using machine learning to incorporate physiological and soon—hormonal—data.

Biomechanical Analysis Tools

Employs wearable sensors to detect and correct movement patterns that might predispose athletes to injury.

Performance Monitoring Dashboard

Offers real-time feedback and long-term tracking, allowing for continuous optimization and safer performance management.

As Kingston University prepares to share its findings with FIFA in 2026, the opportunity to transform women’s sports training is immense. At Runverve, we are ready to lead that transformation.

By fusing cutting-edge technology with scientific insight, we aim to bring female athletes the tools they need to train smarter, recover faster, and perform better—at every point in their cycle.