Episode 70: Erica Mulholland - Stop Blaming Her Hormones — The Real Cause of ACL Injuries in Female Athletes

The Real Reason Young Female Athletes Are Getting More ACL InjuriesAdolescent girls are tearing ACLs at alarming rates, particularly in soccer, but the explanation most people reach for is wrong. According to strength coach and former All-American soccer player Erica Mulholland, the problem has far less to do with female anatomy or hormones than most people think.In this episode, Erica Mulholland joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth for a discussion on ACL injuries, strength training, long-term athletic development, and the growing pressures facing young female athletes.Drawing on her experience as a collegiate athlete, semi-professional player in Brazil, and author of the book Female Athlete, Mulholland explains why strength training remains the single biggest missing piece in a female athlete’s development. She challenges popular misconceptions around biomechanics and menstrual cycles, arguing that poor mechanics are often the result of fatigue and inadequate physical preparation, not the root cause of injury itself.The conversation also explores the role of parents and coaches in youth sports, the dangers of overscheduling young athletes, and why one well-designed strength session per week can completely change an athlete’s trajectory.MEET THE GUESTErica Mulholland- Former All-American Soccer Player - Johns Hopkins University- Strength & Conditioning Coach- Author: Female AthleteTOPICS DISCUSSED- Why ACL injuries in girls are more about load management than anatomy- Why strength training is essential for adolescent female athletes- What a well-designed in-season strength programme looks like- The biggest myths surrounding menstrual cycles and ACL injuries- How coaches and parents can better support young athletes- Load management, recovery, sleep, and nutrition for injury preventionHIGHLIGHTS00:00 – Intro00:52 – Why ACL Injuries Are So Prevalent in Young Female Athletes03:57 – Sponsor: Boston Orthopedics and Wellness | Beck Bode05:29 – The Impact of Year-Round Youth Sports08:24 – What Needs to Change: Parents, Coaches & Administration14:47 – What a Typical Training Session Looks Like17:33 – Are We Overcomplicating ACL Prevention?21:54 – Getting Buy-In from Coaches, Athletic Directors & Parents25:27 – American vs. International Approaches to the Weight Room27:18 – What Separates a Good Strength Coach from a Bad One28:48 – Training for Endurance in Soccer Athletes30:11 – What Coaches Should Look for in a Strength Training32:21 – When to Start Talking Nutrition and Sleep34:28 – Nutrition and Supplements for Teens38:05 – Best Technology Tools for Assessing Athletes40:30 – Key Takeaways From the Female Athlete45:06 – What Parents Should Prioritize & What Coaches Should Stop Overlooking46:34 – Lightning Round: ACL Reconstruction, Load Management, etc48:57 – Addressing Body Image Fears in the Weight Room50:19 – Other Common Injuries in Young Female Athletes52:45 – The Rise of Compartment SyndromeQUOTES:01:04 - “We used to think it was just a female issue that, girls have wider hips or a larger Q angle and they had different mechanics than males, or there's hormonal factors at play — But it's really more a training load problem.” 06:40 - “I think parents fall into the trap that if they're not on the top team, they're not playing year round, they're not doing skill sessions year round, that their kid will fall behind, and they're not going to be on the top team when they hit puberty. Well, that's not the truth.”LINKSErica Mulholland - https://ericasuter.com Female Athlete High Performance: Building Fast, Strong, and Powerful Female Athletes- https://www.amazon.com/Female-Athlete-High-Performance-Building/dp/B0CN8NJF2F PlayerPulse - https://playerpulseapp.com RELATED EPISODESThe Surgeon Who Saved Sports - Meet Dr. Andrews - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkvI56ZiabA&t SPONSORS- Boston Orthopedics and Wellness helps you recover faster, move better, and perform at your best with advanced orthopedic and wellness care. Get 15% off your first visit: https://www.bostonorthopedicandwellness.com/- Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.comDISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.#FemaleAthlete #ACLPrevention #YouthSports #WomensSoccer #StrengthAndConditioning