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Female Athlete Health – Injury Rehab Network
A partnership between Sterosport, BASRaT, and UA92 worked together to bring a unique CPD event to sports rehabilitation practitioners and students. Taking place at UA92 in Manchester on Wednesday 12th February 2025, the event featured presentations and practical sessions with expert guest speakers about prehab and rehab in female athlete health.
Forty sports rehabilitation practitioners, and students, attended this in person professional development and networking event.
Yasmin Parton-Sotomayor (Sport Rehabilitator) and Georgie Perris-Redding (Player/ Captain), Sale Sharks Women
Yasmin is a Sport Rehabilitator who graduated from the University of Salford in 2021. She has since worked in elite sports, including roles with Manchester Magic, Manchester Mystics, and Basketball England’s ‘England Talent Program.’
Yasmin currently focuses on the rehabilitation of elite female athletes, serving as a Rehabilitation Therapist with Sale Sharks Women, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting athlete recovery and performance optimisation.
Georgie is Captain of Sale Sharks women and is currently undergoing rehabilitation following ACL, MCL and meniscus surgery.
Michael Carolan (Sport Rehabilitation Subject Lead, University of Salford)
Mike is subject lead for Sport Rehabilitation at the University of Salford, qualified in Sport Rehabilitation, Strength and Conditioning and Athletics Coaching.
His current work centres around the rehabilitation and performance coaching of track and field athletes, professional football players, academy players and athletes from other sports.
He recently consulted for the Super Falcons Nigerian Women’s Football team in their preparation for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they played England in the semi-finals.
Previously, he has worked across multiple sports, including International Basketball for GB and England age groups, National League Rugby with Macclesfield RUFC, Professional Football and Women’s Amateur Football with Manchester City.
Steve Phillips (Physiotherapist), Edge Hill University
Steve began his career working in the NHS as a rotational physio at Salford Royal Hospital. He then moved into professional football as Salford City’s Head Physiotherapist. There he won back-to-back promotions, most recently in a play-off final at Wembley.
He then moved to Crewe Alexandra FC, where he spent 5 years climbing the ranks from Senior Academy Physio to Head Physio then Head of Performance, overseeing the Sports Science and Medical departments. Steve’s most recent role was as Head Physio for Everton women’s FC.
He is currently working as a senior lecturer at Edge Hill University. He has a special interest in sports injuries and has set up a clinic alongside his work at the University.
Dr Wayne Diesel (Physiotherapist)
Dr Wayne Diesel is a University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, graduate Physiotherapist with a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Cape Town.
Over the past 30 years, he has gained extensive experience working as a physiotherapist and Head of Department across three continents and various sports. Teams including the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), Miami Dolphins (NFL), Tottenham Hotspurs and Charlton Athletic (EPL), Gloucester Rugby, Springbok Rugby, Bafana Bafana, Western Province Cricket, South African Field Hockey and South African Women’s Gymnastics. As well as the Head Physio for South African Olympics (1996), Commonwealth (1998) and All African (1995) Games.
Since semi-retirement in June 2021, he has maintained his physiotherapy registration in the UK, regularly reviews scientific articles before publication, has been awarded a Fellowship to the Carnegie-Wits Alumni Diaspora Programme, currently serves as a scientific advisory board member for Euleria (which specialises in tele-rehab using gaming technology).
Over the past 2 years, is a Red Bull Performance Consultant working with elite Downhill Mountain bikers competing at World Series events, and he is Head of Analytics for OpenSport.io (OpenSport is revolutionising the sports world with an open data and connected ecosystem). He has also assisted in an external review of a professional football club’s performance department.
Claire Gregory (Sports Scientist and Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist), Sigma Woman
Claire is a sports scientist and exercise rehabilitation specialist with over 20 years of experience. Aa a lifelong athlete, she has played an array of sports at varying levels, with a main focus on rugby union.
After becoming a mother and discovering a lack of local support for postpartum rehabilitation and returning to sport, she developed a strong desire to specialise in this area. This passion led her to co-own a women’s health clinic in Cheshire.
She also teaches sports massage and medical acupuncture at higher education institutions on various sports-related undergraduate programmes. She is dedicated to combining research and clinical practice to raise awareness and support women in starting or returning to sport, with a particular focus on pre and postpartum care.
Presentations
Postoperative Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation in Elite Women’s Rugby – case study
Yasmin and Georgie’s presentation featured a case study focused on the rehabilitation of Georgie following ACL, MCL, and meniscus surgery, offering insights into effective rehabilitation strategies in elite female sport.
Yasmin presented the injury detail which included ACL rupture, partial tear of medial meniscus attachment, tearing of the deep MCL and osteochondral contusion. The procedure included ACL reconstruction with BPTP (bone-patellar tendon-bone) graft, meniscus root repair (medial and lateral) and MCL reconstruction with synthetic graft.
In planning for recovery and rehabilitation Yasmin and Georgie considered pain management, positional profile, time management and injury history. The timeline for return to play was 6-12 months.
Post operative care for weeks 0-6 aimed to manage pain and swelling, regain ROM (range of movement), gait re-education, quad hypertrophy and motor patterning. For weeks 6-14 the aims were continuation of quad hypertrophy and to commence global lower body strength block. Georgie described her feelings at this stage, how she wanted to be gold standard, was able to start outputting but her body didn’t feel as expected.
The objectives for weeks 15-20 of Georgie’s rehab were progressive plyometric exposure. As this stage the clinical presentation was good, but Georgie’s gut feeling was that something wasn’t quite right although she was able to continue.
For weeks 21-25 the objectives were to return to run and again the clinical presentation was good with full range of motion and no swelling. Georgie started to feel stronger but felt odd moving through the stages.
During weeks 25-28 Georgie returned to running on grass and had a 6-month post op review with the surgeon. Unfortunately, revision surgery was required but Georgie was relieved that her gut feeling was right. Georgie felt frustration around the return to play timeline getting longer.
Yasmin reflected on the process to date from her perspective as a practitioner where perhaps the review/ assessment could have come earlier. Yasmin felt she could have also put more focus on the menstrual cycle and more conversations with other practitioners in the multi-disciplinary team may have been beneficial.
Georgie’s reflections as an athlete were the importance of knowing and trusting your body, having high expectations of the people you work with and having an external support network is key.
Click here to view Georgie and Yasmin’s presentation
SMAS Female Case Study – Putting Things Into Practice
Mike’s presentation considered how to convert the S-Mas into formidable options for coaching and rehabilitation. He discussed two case studies: one an assessment of an S-Mas and then second a case study of a female athlete post ligament reconstruction and rehabilitation. He then directed the discussion to look at what an assessment means, what to consider when it comes to testing and rehabilitation and how coaching frameworks come into play.
Key points:
- The S-MAS – Premise and History
- In action and aftermath
- Key concepts – Rehab Models and the 3P’s
- Female Athlete Case Study
Mike explained how the S-MAS is a 12-point scoring system developed by track practitioners linked primarily to hamstring injury risk in team sports. The higher the score, the greater the injury risk, with key areas including toe off, maximum vertical projection (flight), late swing, touch down (ground contact) and mid stance.
He presented a video of an athlete with an analysis of running mechanics, then outlined the process for developing a plan.
He highlighted two main ideas: sprinting is a skill that requires time and building tolerance comes from running fast and regularly. For practical application of the S-MAS, he recommends the 3P’s of Position, Pattern and Power.
The presentation covered a case study of a female 400m hurdles athlete, detailing her rehabilitation and return to competition. Four months post-operation she could run, although her leg felt heavy, slow and she lacked confidence. Assessments examined ranges, asymmetries, control and crash landings. By following the 3P process with exercises focussing on position, pattern and power, she was running well 6–7 months after her operation.
Summary of presentation:
- Assessment is only the start
- 10% symmetry is not enough
- Test across multiple ranges and types
- Immersion in practice
- 3P’s
Click here to view Mike’s presentation
The ACL Epidemic in Women’s Football
Steve’s presentation considered why women get more ACL injuries than men and what we can potentially do about it. Women experience ACL injuries at 3-6 times the rate of men, according to research by Montalvo et al. (2019).
He considered why women get more ACL injuries with research by Parsons, Coen & Bekker (2021) investigating biological causes, including a significantly smaller ACL notch in women and female athletes taking significantly longer to generate maximum hamstring torque, going on to discuss the complex interplay between multiple variables when considering a gendered approach.
Key recommendations from the presentation:
- School-age range is the best time for children to develop neuromuscular control.
- Athletes who learn preventive training programmes at an early age may be more inclined to maintain this behaviour.
- Start preventative plans before an age when injury rates rise.
He described some actions that can be taken with athletes now, focusing on testing and education. A multi-component preventative training programme performed 2-3 times weekly could result in up to 75% lower risk of ACL injury (Padua et al. 2018).
The presentation continued to discuss when ACL injuries occur, with 50% occurring before 33 minutes and 70% occurring before 47 minutes. Pre-match readiness to perform is therefore important, and Steve described a 15-20-minute dynamic warm-up and considered the use of plyometric training.
The presentation was brought to a close with a discussion of strength, with recommendations for practitioners to consider whether athletes are strong enough, correct any imbalances, and assess strength ratios.
Click here to view Steve’s presentation
Downhill Mountain Bike Sports-Related Concussions in Female Riders
Dr Wayne Diesel talked about his experiences working with elite female Downhill Mountain Bikers. Especially surrounding the increased risk of concussion. He demonstrated the DSST (Digital Symbol Substitution Test) for baseline screening and continued with a discussion on the use of iMG’s (Instrumented Mouthguards) to monitor angular kinematics of the head during riding.
Wayne examined the epidemiology of DHMTB injuries, noting a higher injury rate than in rugby—around 20 per 1,000 hours during races. He highlighted that female athletes are at increased risk, particularly for head and neck injuries, with women having roughly 47% lower neck strength than men. Consequently, he advises that female riders include neck strengthening and resistance training with exercise bands.
He shared a case study involving elite athlete Tahnee Seagrave, who developed post-concussion syndrome with severe symptoms after a crash in April 2022.
For concussion management and detection, he employs the SCAT-6 alongside the Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) with Red Bull athletes. The DSST, known for its high sensitivity to change, is administered easily using pencil and paper.
He uses a handheld dynamometer (HHD) to assess neck strength that allows athletes to perform a self-test. Dr Diesel also evaluates the deep neck flexor endurance test (Painkra et al., 2014).
He has introduced Instrumented Mouth Guards (IMGs) with DHMTB athletes to collect data and improve safety and performance. These devices monitor Head Acceleration Events (HAE) with alerts for direct and indirect impacts, enabling practitioners to set thresholds and refine techniques. He works closely with riders to manage load and address head injuries.
Finally, he collaborates with the medical team at events to ensure that the concussion clearance protocol is followed, with return-to-riding guidelines in place to support a safe recovery and return to competition.
Key points to consider:
- Female DHMTB athletes have an increased risk of sport-related concussion (SRC).
- Simple neck strengthening exercises may reduce the incidence of SRC.
- Baseline screening includes SCAT6, DSST, HHD self-test, and deep neck flexor endurance test.
- Monitoring and a clear return to riding protocols.
Click here to view Wayne Diesel’s presentation
The Impact of Breasts on Performance and Posture
Claire’s presentation explored the changes a woman’s body undergoes throughout key stages of her lifecycle—puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and ageing—and how these transitions impact posture and biomechanics. With a particular focus on breast health, she examined the often-overlooked role of the breasts in influencing musculoskeletal function, movement efficiency, and overall physical performance.
Her presentation highlighted the importance of well-fitting sports bras and proper breast support to reduce injury risk and improve posture and boost performance and help women lead active, pain-free lives.
She pointed out that 46% of girls avoid sports due to breast concerns, yet only 10% wear a sports bra during PE or sports. A poorly fitted bra or weak postural muscles can lead to compensatory changes that affect running gait, increase shoulder and neck tension, contribute to back pain, and hinder athletic performance.
She also considered external and internal support: while a properly fitted sports bra provides external support, internal support is built through postural training, core stability and effective breathing techniques.
Practitioners can:
- Refer patients for a posture-fitting appointment
- Education – complete a GALS against gravity workshop
- Workshop – host a Breast Education workshop
- Consider – breast support and posture in rehab programmes
The presentation was summarised by stating that breasts are not just a bra problem. They are a rehab problem. Proper breast support and postural training improve performance and reduce injury risk. Coaches and practitioners need to integrate breast-aware postural training into rehab.
Click here to view Claire Gregory’s presentation
Practical sessions
Putting the 3Ps into practice
Mike Carolan used the strength and conditioning gym at UA92 to demonstrate the application of the 3Ps for developing strong running techniques for rehab and performance. The exercises focused on building pattern, power and position.
ACL Practical: Diagnostic Testing
Steve Phillips led a practical session, including three diagnostic tests for ACL injury. The tests include:
- Pivot Shift Test
- Lachman Test
- Lever Sign Test
Click here to view Steve’s practical presentation
Female Athlete Health – Common Themes
With so much insightful content shared during the event, some common themes were uncovered. There is a research gap with the evidence base in relation to women’s sports injuries decades behind men’s sports.
Practitioners and athletes should focus on strength and posture. They could consider whether individuals are strong enough and correct imbalances to restore function and maximise performance. They should also spend time developing and repeating functional skills and building tolerance for the demands of elite performance.
Treat the individual with a personalised approach based on each person’s needs and requirements. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t—know your body and trust your gut. Understand biological and physiological differences.
Use the skills from across multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) and have a strong network of colleagues and contacts.
Test what matters and apply insights from testing to improve safety and performance. Safety can align with improved performance.
Take a preventative approach to female athlete health. For example, a dynamic warm-up is proven to reduce the incidence of ACL injuries, and neck strengthening exercises can limit the risk of concussion.
Internal and external support is required to promote good posture and maximise performance in women’s sports. Education is required to support athletes and practitioners in improving female athletes’ health.
Postural training should be incorporated into women’s sport injury rehabilitation programmes.
Follow the expert guest speakers
Claire Gregory
Georgie Perris-Redding
Michael Carolan
Stephen Phillps
Dr Wayne Diesel
Yesmin Parton-Sotomayor
2025 Injury Rehab Network events
Find out about and register your interest for all the Injury Rehab Network events with BASRaT planned for 2025.
Please enter your details into the form below along with any questions or comments and a member of our team will be happy to provide you with more information:
Get in Touch
- Female Athlete Health – Injury Rehab Network
- Dr Geoff Davies – Behind the Scenes with the WRU and British & Irish Lions Team Doctor – Injury Rehab Network
- Douglas Hammond – Facial Injuries in Sport – Injury rehab Network
- 2025 Injury Rehab Network Events
- Claire Robertson – Patellofemoral Update – Injury Rehab Network
- Colin Lewin – Soft Skills in Professional Sport – Injury Rehab Network
- Des Ryan – Youth Athletic Development – Injury Rehab Network
- Dr Carly McKay – Injury prevention in rugby and football: are we making any progress? – Injury Rehab Network
- Micki Cuppett – Clinical Pearls to Enhance Your Medical Examination Skills – Injury Rehab Network
- Dr. Ian Beasley – Ex-footballers Healthcare – Injury Rehab Network
- Siobhan O’Donovan — Busting Booby Traps — Injury Rehab Network
- Angela Jackson — Integrating Neurocognitive Rehab in to Return to Sport Protocols — Injury Rehab Network
- Dr Andrew Shafik — Working as a Doctor in English Football — Injury Rehab Network
- Dr Nicola Keay — Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) — Injury Rehab Network
- Ian Hunt – Modern Management of Chest, Rib and Sternal Injuries in the Elite Athlete – Injury Rehab Network
- Dr Amit Mistry – Mental Health Challenges in Elite Sport – Injury Rehab Network
- Head Injuries and Sport
- Gerard Greene – Male Athletic Pelvic Health – Injury Rehab Network
- Geraint Griffiths – The Prevention of and Rehabilitation from Visually Related Sporting Morbidity – Injury Rehab Network
- Professor David Lloyd – Surgery for Groin Pain – The Lloyd Release Procedure – Injury Rehab Network Event
- 2024 Injury Rehab Network Events
- Jonathan Bell FRCS (ORTH) – Meniscus Tears and other Complex Injuries of the Knee – Injury Rehab Network
- Professor Rowena Johnson – Imaging of Groin and Hip Pain in Athletes – Injury Rehab Network
- Prehab & Rehab in Elite/ Professional Football – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Steve Phillips – Calf Muscle Injuries – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Grant Downie OBE – Maximising your Impact in the VUCA World of Professional Football – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Manchester FA and Sterosport Partnership Aims for Manchester to be the Safest Place to Play
- Dr Marwan Al-Dawoud – Concussion in Rugby – Injury Rehab Network Event
- How to Strap Your Ankle
- John Dickinson – Optimising Care for Asthma and Disordered Breathing Patterns in Athletes – Injury Rehab Network Event
- How to Apply Sports Tape to Your Knee
- Dr Wayne Diesel – My Long Walk to Retirement – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Rugby Union and Rugby League Mandatory Medical Equipment : 2023 Update and What to Buy
- Leanne Simoncelli – Optimising and Individualising ACLR Rehabilitation – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Lessons from Working in Elite Football – Injury Rehab Network February 2023
- The Most Common Hockey Injuries and How to Prevent Them
- How to Treat Common Hockey Injuries
- Andy Williams – ACL Reconstruction in Professional Athletes – A Surgeon’s Perspective – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Steve Simbler MRPharm.S – Medicines Management in Sport – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Hockey and Ice Hockey Injury Statistics
- Essential Hockey Safety Equipment
- How to Perform a Risk Assessment for Sports: The Ultimate Guide (Including Examples and Template)
- How to Treat Common Cycling Injuries
- Preventing Common Cycling Injuries
- Professor Iain Hutchison – Sporting Facial Injuries and Treatment Delivering Speedy Recovery – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Hockey First Aid Kit Contents List
- Hockey First Aid Kits
- How to Treat Common Netball Injuries
- Gary Bloom – Why do Players Suddenly Experience a Catastrophic Loss of Form – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Dr Monna Arvinen-Barrow – Rehabilitation of the Biopsychosocial Athlete – Injury Rehab Network Event
- How Can Common Netball Injuries be Prevented?
- First Aid Qualifications for Netball
- Netball First Aid Kits
- Netball First Aid Kit Contents List
- 2023 Injury Rehab Network Events
- Essential Safety Equipment for Cricketers
- Fiona Rosamond – Podiatry in Football – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Essential First Aid Skills for Cricket Coaches
- Common Cricket Injuries and How to Avoid Them
- Dr Carl Todd – Osteopathy in Football – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Dr Andrew Newton – Grass Roots Paediatric Sports Medical Issues – Injury Rehab Network
- Tom Parry – Nutrition in Premier League Football – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Cricket First Aid Kit Contents List
- A Guide to Cricket First Aid Kits
- Treatment and Prevention of Cauliflower Ear
- How to Treat Common Rugby Injuries
- Rugby First Aid Courses: Everything you Need to Know
- The Definitive Rugby First Aid Kit Contents List
- Taping Your Wrists for Football: Why and How
- Effective Prevention of Injuries in Football
- How to Treat Common Football Injuries
- Rugby First Aid Kits: Complete Guidance for Rugby Union and Rugby League
- Knee Injuries in Professional Football and Elite Sport – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Steve Kemp – Lateral Ankle Injuries in Professional Football – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Michael Blackie BDS – Oral Health Impact on Performance in Elite Sport
- The Best Football First Aid Courses Recommended by Experts – Courses your coaches should be taking and why
- Football First Aid Kit Contents List – What should yours contain to keep your football players safe?
- Boxing First Aid Kit Contents List
- Preventing and Treating Shin Splints
- 8 Essential Safety Tips for Boxing
- How to Apply Boxing Hand and Wrist Wraps
- Essential Boxing Safety Equipment
- How to Spot and Treat an ACL Tear
- How to Treat a Pulled Hamstring
- How to Treat a Groin Strain
- How to Treat a Sprained Ankle
- Essential Parts of Any Sports First Aid Kit
- Recommended First Aid Courses for Sport
- Essential First Aid Skills for Cyclists
- Cycling First Aid Kit Contents List
- Cycling First Aid Kits – A Complete Guide
- Mike Healy – Pitchside Care CPD – Injury Rehab Network Event
- David Fevre – Pitch Side Injuries: No Time to be Injured – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Diane Ryding – Physiotherapy in an Elite Football Academy: Beyond injuries – Injury Rehab Network Event
- The Strain of Christmas – A Busy Time for Physio’s
- Dr Imtiaz Ahmad: Football Club Doctor – An Evolving Role – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Diane Ryding & David Fevre at the Injury Rehab Network
- GB Maxibasketball and Sterosport Partnership Announcement
- Sterosport and FMPA Partnership Announcement
- 2022 Injury Rehab Network Events
- Dr Ian Horsley, Team GB Deputy Chief Physio, at the Injury Rehab Network
- Sign Up: Sports Taping and Kinesiology Taping Online Courses
- Dr Barry Monk – Sunshine and Skin Cancer – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Steve Miller – Calf Injury Rehabilitation – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Angela Jackson – Managing The Overloaded Younger Athlete – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Shoulder Injuries in Sport – Expert Q&A Injury Rehab Network Event
- Professor Bill Ribbans – The Athletic Ankle. When do Lax Ligaments Need Surgery? – Injury Rehab Network
- Diane Ryding – Tackling Paediatric Injuries – Injury Rehab Network
- What are the most common sports injuries? Top Ten (Part 2)
- What are the most common sports injuries? Top Ten (Part 1)
- The Athletes Shoulder – The Surgeons Perspective – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Dr Claire Minshull – Getting Efficacious About Rehab and Conditioning – Injury Rehab Network Event
- How to Conduct a Risk Assessment for the Return to Sport
- Return to sport: A complete guide on what to expect
- Types of Sports Tape and their Uses
- Gary Lewin, Expert Football Physiotherapist – Rehabilitation on the Road in Elite Sport – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Josh Quigley at the Injury Rehab Network
- 2021 Injury Rehab Network Events
- The Importance of the Partnership Between a Manager and a Physio
- Paul Lubas – The Pitch-Side Paramedic
- Returning to Work as a Sports Therapist After Coronavirus
- Hyde United FC and Sterosport Partnership Announcement
- Chorley FC and Sterosport Partnership Announcement
- British American Football and Sterosport Partnership Announcement
- Dave Fevre – Expert Chartered Sports Physiotherapist – Injury Rehab Network Event
- Does Kinesiology Tape Work?
- Here To Help When You Return To Sport
- Mike James at the Injury Rehab Network
- Hannah Dines Shares Details About Her Paralympic Cycling Programme
- Hannah Dines – Hills Thrills and No Chills on the Road to Tokyo 2020
- Dave Fevre at the Injury Rehab Network
- Hannah Dines – When an Athlete Switches Off
- Hannah Dines – Life Balance – How Friends Are Key to Elite Success
- University of Salford Sports Taping Courses
- Hannah Dines – Love Island, Laundry, Admin and Repeat – A Day in the Life of a Paralympian
- Injured? Here’s How Nutrition Can Help
- Sterosport – A New Approach to Sports Injuries
- Hannah Dines – Terminating Injury
- Injury Rehab Network NW Gets off to a Flying Start