Women's Football Hub

#050 ACL injuries in female youth players – The surgeon’s perspective with Miss Morgan Bailey

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-35gpb-188d72d

🎙️ “ACL Injuries in Female Youth Players” – with Miss Morgan Bailey
🗣️ Hosted by Carolyn Kent and student co-host Lotte Black

🔹 Episode Summary:

In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, we’re joined by Miss Morgan Bailey – a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon and chair of the Women’s ACL Orthopaedic Steering Group. Together with co-host and strength coach Lotte Black, we dive deep into one of the most talked-about topics in women’s football: ACL injuries in female youth players.

From surgery to prevention, to practical coaching solutions – this episode is packed with evidence-based insights and powerful perspectives on protecting young athletes.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

⚠️ Why ACL injuries in youth players are rising

  • 20x increase in adolescent ACL injuries over the past 20 years

  • Specialisation, overtraining, and underprepared support systems

🧬 The female factor: Sex-based vs. gender-based injury risks

  • Hormonal changes, alignment, and menstrual cycle impacts

  • Gender inequality in kit design, pitches, coaching, and care access

💥 What coaches NEED to know about injury prevention

  • Neuromuscular warm-ups reduce injuries by up to 70%

  • Why plyometrics are the most overlooked warm-up component

🛠️ Surgical decision-making in young players

  • Growth plate concerns and graft choices

  • When surgery is necessary—and when it’s not

  • Long-term implications for young athletes’ knee health and careers

🧠 The psychology behind teenage rehab

  • Managing expectations for return to play

  • Supporting autonomy in adolescent decision-making

  • Importance of physio and peer support

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

🎧 Listen Now:

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.
🔗 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the episode!

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