TOWARDS A MODEL THAT PREDICTS ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE RISK IN FEMALE ATHLETES

3.5 Years EPSRC fully funded PhD starting January/April 2025

Project Summary

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a critical connective tissue that retains stability and mobility within the knee. Some knee movements can inadvertently expose the ACL to a tensile force that exceeds its ultimate tensile strength, causing rupture. An ACL rupture requires a substantial period of rehabilitation, extending to almost 12 months in many cases, with most athletes failing to return to the same playing standard.

Netball players have historically suffered from high ACL rupture rates, believed to be due to the unique kinematics generated by being unable to move with the ball (i.e. high decelerations, frequent jumping/landing). The recent growth in female sport – and especially football – has now enabled direct comparison of ACL rupture rates vs males: female athletes are 2 – 8 times more likely to suffer ACL failure, with this changing risk profile initiated at age 16 years. This PhD studentship will develop a model that can establish ACL rupture risk in the female athlete, performing experiments and analysis to integrate known factors including physiology (e.g. daily hormone levels), anatomy (e.g. specific measures including hip-knee-ankle angle), age, and shoe-surface interaction (e.g. artificial turf and studded boot).

The PhD studentship will work within a thriving Sport Engineering environment, integrating highly relevant expertise from colleagues in human movement and computational simulation. The studentship will focus on investigating the anatomical and physiological differences of the female athlete, relative to the shoe-surface interaction. Our preliminary data is consistent with the literature, indicating that a better understanding of female movement will be of the utmost importance in understanding how we can isolate and integrate multiple variables, with the underlying hormone cycle meaning that some change on a day-by-day basis (e.g. joint laxity). Tracking how female movement evolves with maturation will be a cornerstone of this work, given how risk accelerates during mid-teens. 

We will draw upon expertise and facilities from across the School of Engineering, providing a holistic approach to develop the first model for predicting ACL rupture risk in the female athlete.

This project will focus on developing computational modelling and practical, experimental skills. Being able to combine these techniques, as a ‘digital twin’, is an emerging facet of Engineering, and one that will likely create a multitude of opportunities within a sports environment.

Academic Criteria

Candidates should hold or expect to gain a first-class degree or a good 2.1 (or their equivalent) in Engineering or a related subject. 

Desirable skills: Experience in capturing and/or processing musculoskeletal biomechanics data; the use of computational software for performing structural analysis; working within a sports science environment

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent)

Contact for further information

Please contact Dr Peter Theobald (TheobaldPS@Cardiff.ac.uk)  to informally discuss this opportunity

How to apply

Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University  webpages (http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/engineering ) 

In addition to the standard application form, applicants should also:

·        Attach a CV. Guidance on CVs for a PhD position can be found on the FindAPhD website.

·        Ensure your personal statement (as part of the university application form, or as a separate attachment, if you prefer) provides a clear explanation of your research interest, preparation undertaken, and an understanding of the project. 

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words, and address the following questions:

1. What are your scientific research interests and ambition?

2. How has your academic and/or professional journey prepared you for PhD study? (for instance, give examples of work you particularly enjoyed, of challenges you overcame, of connecting with others about your work or ideas, of showing inventiveness, of developing new skills and knowledge)

3. Why do you think this project is important?”

Applicants should select Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), with a start date January / April 2025.

In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select “I will be applying for a scholarship / grant” and specify that you are applying for advertised funding, reference PT EPSRC 25

Deadline for applications

14^th October 2024. We may however close this opportunity earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.