Resilience Redefined: How Female Athletes Overcome Injury with Strength and Science

Women’s Month is a celebration of achievement, perseverance, and progress, and nowhere is that spirit more evident than in the world of sport. Female athletes consistently push boundaries, not only in performance but also in their ability to recover, adapt, and excel after injury. These stories of resilience are not just inspirational, they are grounded in science, demonstrating how physiology, training, and rehabilitation strategies come together to help women return to their sport.

Understanding the Unique Challenges Female Athletes Face

Recovery from injury is rarely straightforward. The rehabilitation process for female athletes often requires navigating unique challenges, including anatomical, hormonal, and biomechanical differences that can affect injury risk and recovery. For example, one article explains that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are significantly more common in women than in men, partly due to hip and knee alignment, muscle activation patterns, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. Despite these challenges, many women return to high-level sport stronger than before.

Stories of Determination and Science in Action

Spanish footballer Alexia Putellas sustained a severe ACL injury in 2022 and returned to competition after months of structured rehabilitation. Her recovery included neuromuscular training, progressive strength conditioning, and sport-specific drills (an approach supported by a recent review showing that targeted rehabilitation reduces re-injury risk and improves functional outcomes in female athletes). Similarly, former Australian netball captain Liz Ellis overcame an ACL rupture to lead her team to a world championship, a testament to both her mental resilience and the precision of her rehabilitation plan.

The Science Behind Recovery Advantages

Interestingly, a recent article has noted that women may have certain recovery advantages in endurance and training tolerance, linked to differences in muscle fiber composition and recovery metabolism. These strengths are now being integrated into rehabilitation planning. For example, one report described how menstrual cycle tracking is increasingly used in training and rehabilitation programmes to optimise performance gains and reduce injury risk.

Evidence-Based Rehabilitation for the Female Athlete

Modern physiotherapy programmes for female athletes often include strength training for hip and knee stability, plyometric drills for neuromuscular control, and sport-specific conditioning to meet competition demands. Just as importantly, rehabilitation addresses the psychological side of recovery, helping athletes rebuild confidence, which research shows is a critical factor in safe return to play.

In conclusion

During Women’s Month, celebrating these stories means recognising not only the determination of individual athletes but also the science that supports their comeback. Female athletes are redefining resilience by combining personal grit with evidence-based rehabilitation, proving that with the right support, setbacks can become stepping stones to even greater achievements.

References

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Female Athletes: Common Sports Injuries & Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries/female-athletes-common-sports-injuries-prevention

Buckthorpe, M., et al. (2022). Hamstring injury rehabilitation and prevention in the female athlete. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 17(5), 911–928. https://ijspt.scholasticahq.com/article/38254-hamstring-injury-rehabilitation-and-prevention-in-the-female-athlete

Reynolds, G. (2025, May 31). Women have strength, endurance and recovery advantages. Why don’t we talk about it? The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/05/31/women-strength-performance-endurance-recovery/

Reuters. (2024, April 18). Data could help solve ACL crisis in women's game, says software firm. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/data-could-help-solve-acl-crisis-womens-game-says-software-firm-2024-04-18/