Equipment and safety standards for female athletes
Historical overview
The development of sports equipment for women has evolved significantly over the years, focusing on enhancing performance, comfort, and safety, tailored to the unique needs and physiology of female athletes. Equipment is now designed with the female body in mind. This includes considerations for differences in body shape, size, and biomechanics. A key example is the creation of the sports bra. In the 1970s, the United States experienced a running boom, which coincided with the second wave of feminism. This period saw an increase in women participating in running as a social activity. In response to the need for appropriate support during physical activity, the first sports bra was created in 1977. This invention, originally known as the "Jockbra" and later as the "Jogbra," used materials such as cotton, polyester, and Lycra to provide comfort, strength, and support, prioritising function over form.
The higher rates of ACL injuries experienced by female athletes have been shoes that cater to the anatomy of the male feet. Studies have suggested that their anatomical differences between the size and shape of male and female foot bones. The European Club Association (ECA) in collaboration with Aspetar and St. Mary's University, the High-Performance Advisory Group conducted independent research into the anatomical differences between male and female feet and how football boots should be engineered accordingly. The study included 350 female football players across Europe. The report discovered that 82% of the female footballers in Europe who took part in a survey experienced discomfort wearing football boots. Notably, 48% of black players experienced heel discomfort, compared to an overall sample average of 33.7% which opens for wider conversations by ethnicity as ‘one size doesn’t fit all, and ethnicity plays a part in that too’- Dr Katrine Kryger (football medicine and sports rehabilitation expert).
Luo G, et al. found evidence conclude that the male and female foot differ and not just a scaled-down version. The ball of the foot is further back in the female foot and the lateral (outside edge) of the foot is a different shape. The study found notable differences in the foot measurements between male and female participants. Males had significantly longer heel-to-ball lengths (ball length) with an average of 181.5mm, compared to 165.0mm in females. Additionally, males exhibited larger measurements in terms of the width at the ball, instep, and heel areas, as well as the circumference around the ball when adjusted for ball length. Conversely, females showed larger dimensions in the toe region, instep height, and the heights of the medial and lateral malleoli compared to males. The findings indicate that female feet are distinct in size and shape from male feet and cannot simply be viewed as smaller, proportional versions of male feet.
Research such as this has increased the need for innovation for more specialised safety equipment for female athletes. Last year Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the women and equalities committee openly called out major sports brands like Adidas, Nike and Puma for the lack of football boots specifically designed for women and girls. Additionally, the boots that cater to female athletes are expensive costing over £200.
However, the U.S.-based sports company IDA Sports has created football boots specifically designed for women and girls to empower them to play sports without equipment holding them back. In 2017 co-founder Laura Youngson & Ben Sandhu worked with podiatrists, physical therapists, coaches and over 800 female players to develop a football cleat designed specifically for females. The football cleats are custom outsoles of their footwear that cater to the small differences that exist between men’s and women’s feet and aim to eliminate preventable pain points. IDA has also proven that the shoes tailored for female athletes can also be priced the same as standard football boots by major sports brands with their average shoe priced around £80. Additionally, specialised sportswear companies such as Lacuna Sports specialise in providing female boots that are tailored to the female foot.
Furthermore, there have been further innovative technologies to protect women beyond footwear. OPRO, a leading manufacturer of mouthguards, has developed several products specifically tailored to support women in sports by ensuring their safety and comfort. Prevent Instrumented Mouthguard (iMG), is a groundbreaking innovation that monitors head impacts, identifying players who need to be assessed. In case of a diagnosed concussion, immediate intervention can help prevent further harm. In response to growing environmental awareness, OPRO has introduced biodegradable mouthguards, appealing to athletes who are environmentally conscious and prefer products that are sustainable and eco-friendly.
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