A team of researchers at the University of Oregon is currently studying the relationships between soccer cleat composition and risk of injury in female versus male athletes. Female soccer players are three times more likely to suffer from major knee injuries than male soccer players, and a recent English study found that ACL injuries are 2-6 times more likely in females than males. This group of students and faculty at UO have been running tests for the past five years testing cleat stud length, traction and stability. They have created a model for a new type of cleat designed specifically for the female foot anatomy, which is in the beginning stages of development. We'll hear more from Emily Karolidis, a PhD candidate and lead researcher in this study, and Mike Hahn, professor of human physiology at UO.
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